Passion and Impulse!

 

The Revival of the Impulse! Record Label and a Review of 3 offerings for your Jazz Desires

 

Article and Review by Joseph Timmons: Xombiewoof Magazine

Albums:

• Self-Titled Album: Charlie Haden & Jim Hall
• Henry Butler & Steven Bernstein – Viper’s Drag
• Kenny Barron & Dave Holland – The Art Of Conversation

First, a History…

** Impulse! Records, American jazz record label, originally established in 1960 by producer Creed Taylor as a subsidiary of ABC-Paramount Records, was based in Santa Monica. John Coltrane was among Impulse!'s earliest signings and thanks to the consistent sales and critical kudos generated by his recordings, the label came to be known in retrospect as "the house that Trane built.

Being almost exclusively an album-based label, Impulse! was able to exploit the new format to the fullest and its LPs are noted for their distinctive visual style. During the 1960s, Impulse! covers and disc labels featured variations on this their color scheme (a notable exception to this scheme is the John Coltrane album A Love Supreme, possibly the most iconic release of the label's catalogue, which uses the usual design in black and white only); for most of the 1960s the front cover of Impulse! albums typically featured the Impulse logo, usually (but not always) in orange letters in a white circle, with black-and-orange exclamation marks above it and the album catalog number below it. The classic design of the disc label, used for most of the 1960s, featured alternations of the Impulse name and the "i-and-exclamation-mark" logo in white-and-orange, set in a black ring, which encircled the label details, most of which was printed in bold black lettering on an orange circle, with some details printed in white.

Like its contemporaries Blue Note and Verve, the front covers of Impulse's LPs often featured stylish large-format photographs or paintings, usually in full color, which were typically 'bled out' to the edges of the cover and printed on glossy laminated stock. Many of the best-known Impulse! covers were designed by photographed by a small group of talented artists. The distinctive, sparse black and white back cover designs bore the slogan "The New Wave of Jazz is on IMPULSE!"; most Impulse! LPs were issued in a gatefold sleeve with photographs and liner notes or an essay inside or, in some cases, multi-page insert booklets.

Impulse!, a label rich in musical history was soon to become part of the Universal Music service brand, unfortunately, in my opinion it was not featured enough, and even though it stood tall as a Jazz Music powerhouse in Europe, it’s American following felt somewhat disappointed by the lack of marketing and promotion, until recently (within the past 3 years) when Universal Music, which also controls both Verve and Blue Note, the present major Jazz supporting Labels, as well as a full gambit of title holdings, rebuilding the Impulse! Brand to full glory. **

Now in its “Renaissance” the Impulse! Record Label is once again a major label for artists that have Jazz flowing through their bodies and out into our ears. In a recent New York Times article “Reviving the House Coltrane Built”, writer and critic Nate Chinen was quoted to say “Impulse’s reactivation reflects a larger turnaround for major-label jazz divisions, most of which had struggled or been shuttered within the past decade or so.” - continuing on in this article to tell of Impulse!’s revival and of good things forth coming. It is safe to say that Jazz is Back, and with labels like Impulse!, Verve and Blue Note, we have many great artists to discover.***

We will now discuss the 3 albums we reviewed to coincide with this lesson of longevity and renewal, we contacted Impulse!, about a review and they sent 3 impressive albums for us to enjoy and report to you.

The self-titled Album: Charlie Haden & Jim Hall, much like the black cats on the cover is a whimsical yet seething and mysterious trip through the senses. Well-rehearsed and performed Haden and Hall make a masterful pair, performing with an ease that would make one think the pieces were fully improvisational. My faves on this album is the opening track Bemsha Swing, followed by Down From Antigua, Skylark and In The Moment. Recording this album must have been, as would be said “A Gas”, just great fun to hear. In Jazz, timing Is Everything, and Charlie Haden & Jim Hall is on the cut, well done gentleman, well done.

 

Henry Butler & Steven Bernstein’s album Viper’s Drag is upbeat, high tempo and has an Orleans feel, mix of Dixie swing and the of time tempos that make Jazz so exciting. The piece Henry’s Boogie is piping hot and snappy, just imaging some sweet hot creole gumbo on the tip of the tongue, that crazy need a drink of a tall cool glass of water, yeah, that’s it. While pieces like King Porter Stomp have a Sultry & Smokey speakeasy feel, this takes you down to Bourbon Street.

 

 

The final album is an open audio dialog, an exchange of ideas and communication without words. The Art Of Conversation by Kenny Barron & Dave Holland take the marriage of Piano and Double Bass beyond the equality of strings, taking turns in the lead and pointing out the truth in the notes. If people spoke in notes, this would be the debate of the century. Kenny Barton’s playing is superb, wistful and spritely, while Dave Holland’s Bass carries power in even its softest notes. Though The Art Of Conversation is their first album together, this Duo has the makings of 2 cut from the same sheet of the finest silk known, smooth and intricate, bold and expressive, while having a softness and demure quality that makes you perk up your ears and listen intently to each hammer fall and pluck.

 

With the advent of modern technology you can get the inside scoop on these and all of the Impulse! Artists at the Impulse! Web Site and on their Facebook Page. Visit the Impulse! YouTube Channel and witness the greatness, expand your mind, your horizons and your collection with these and more great Impulse! Artists.

** - Taken from Wikipedia, checked for accuracy via research

***- Quote taken from article present on NY Times web site, printed as stated from public source.

---

Technorati Tags: Passion,Impulse,Revival,Record,Label,offerings,Jazz,Desires,Article,Review,Joseph,Timmons,Xombiewoof,Magazine,Albums,Self,Album,Charlie,Haden,Hall,Henry,Butler,Steven,Bernstein,Viper,Drag,Kenny,Barron,Dave,Holland,Conversation,History,Records,American,producer,Taylor,Paramount,Santa,Monica,John,Coltrane,signings,sales,kudos,recordings,retrospect,Trane,disc,variations,exception,Love,Supreme,logo,exclamation,alternations,contemporaries,Blue,Note,Verve,paintings,Many,artists,slogan,Wave,sleeve,liner,essay,booklets,Universal,Music,opinion,powerhouse,Europe,promotion,Labels,gambit,holdings,Renaissance,ears,York,Times,House,Built,writer,critic,Nate,Chinen,reactivation,turnaround,decade,Back,lesson,renewal,cats,Bemsha,Down,From,Antigua,Skylark,Moment,gentleman,tempo,Orleans,Dixie,tempos,Boogie,gumbo,tongue,Porter,Stomp,Sultry,Smokey,Bourbon,Street,dialog,communication,Piano,Double,Bass,truth,century,Barton,Though,makings,sheet,perk,advent,technology,Site,Facebook,Page,Visit,YouTube,Channel,horizons,collection,Taken,Wikipedia,accuracy,Quote

Dave Davies is “Rippin” it up once more

Legendary Dave Davies releases his newest and most awaited offering, “Rippin Up Time”.

Hitting Stores Today - on the Legacy Recordings Label.

Album Review by Joseph Timmons: Xombiewoof Magazine

Dave Davies, founding member of The Kinks and the one man attributed with the invention of amp distortion, (for reason of his taking a blade to the cone of an amp speaker, “Ripping” the very fabric of sound ad altering the timeline of all music to come) presents to the Rock & Roll loving community an album that is both provocative and humbling, reflective and a personal examination of one’s life through open eyes, Rippin Up Time, is now available. Dave Davies has been single handedly been noted as the musical genius that inspired Rock Legends from Van Halen to Green Day.

The album Rippin Up Time, produced by Dave Davies and David Nolte, features 10 new and original tracks, reminiscent of the classical and beloved “Kinks” style, yet wholly new and innovative in composition. While being very modern sounding, it still retains Dave’s “Smokey” vocal style. Dave explained in interview his feelings about creating and recording this new ground shaking album “It was wonderful working with my son Russ Davies and old friend David Nolte on this project, I am really excited about this album”, Davies went on to comment “Rippin Up Time is about a man’s reflections of his past, his fears, anxieties and optimism about the present and hopeful expectations of the future”

Rippin Up Time’s release today coincides with Dave Davies plans for his Us Tour starting November 11^th, 2014 at the Turner Ballroom in Milwaukee Wisconsin and the prior Legacy recordings release of career spanning collection Anthology titled The Essential Kinks, celebrating 50 Years of The Kinks Music and the upcoming release of the Newly Remastered edition of Muswell Hillbillies, the Kink’s “masterpiece of working class observation”, containing all original the content of the original album and 9 Bonus Tracks, never before released and a DVD of a rare 1972 television performance never released in North America.

In Review, Rippin Up Time is bold, expressive and well worth the wait, Davies compels the listener to examine and self-evaluate, connecting with the listener on every deep rooted level, in plain verse, without misguided questioning or symbolisms, Dave Davies brings home the message of life’s never ending quest for significance. In both a serious nature, with songs like the title track Ripping Up Time, and Semblance of Sanity, the question of a man’s place in the universe comes into play, and when does one reach a breaking point. One track I found most endearing and quite humorous, King of Karaoke is a story well known of dark and smokey bars with would be rock stars never discovered, singing their favorite songs hoping for some acknowledgement of their talent, often fueled by liquid courage while retired prom queens attempt to regain admiration as well.

If you love Rock with meaning, songs with mirth and music with a message, Rippin Up Time is an album you need to own, listen to and share, even if it’s only with your fellow late night bar hounds, reminiscing of the Good Old Days and singing Lola while drinking on a Low Budget,… sorry, a play on the fabulous history of a great performer and talented artist.

Dave Davies, Here’s to you Mate!

More at http://www.legacyrecordings.com and http://www.davedavies.com

---

Technorati Tags: Dave,Davies,Rippin,Legendary,album,Time,Legacy,Recordings,Label,Review,Joseph,Timmons,Xombiewoof,Magazine,member,Kinks,distortion,blade,speaker,fabric,music,Rock,Roll,examination,life,genius,Legends,Halen,David,Nolte,composition,Smokey,Russ,friend,reflections,anxieties,optimism,expectations,Tour,November,Turner,Ballroom,Milwaukee,Wisconsin,collection,Anthology,Essential,edition,Muswell,Hillbillies,Kink,masterpiece,observation,Bonus,Tracks,television,performance,North,America,worth,listener,self,verse,symbolisms,message,significance,songs,Semblance,universe,talent,courage,prom,queens,admiration,mirth,Lola,Budget,history,performer,artist,Here,Mate

Album Review: RED TIDE RISING – The Rising

Reviewed by Joseph Timmons – Xombiewoof Magazine

 

Red Tide Rising, hailing from Colorado, considered the “upstarts of the music scene” and well established for a band that is still quite new has revealed their breakout album The Rising have been invited by metal veterans Drowning Pool to open their 'unLUCKy 13' Autumn tour alongside Like A Storm and A Breach of Silence.

Red Tide Rising, who will be out touring their Extended Version of The Rising, sees this as their path, to be able to support their release on this run with their friends in Drowning Pool. In interviews, Red Tide Rising frontman, Matthew Whiteman said "It's great to see bands like Drowning Pool that recognize the importance of helping out up and coming bands like Red Tide Rising by staying in touch over time and offering tour dates for us to gain exposure and have the opportunity to share our music".

Red Tide Rising is not just another metal band, with course vocals blended with harmonic presentation, supported with progressive rhythms set this band apart from many of their contemporaries. Skill such as theirs comes with years of practice, blood, sweat and many tears…. all of this proves that they are naturally gifted musicians with phenomenal talent and a destiny that only starts with greatness and skyrockets upward.

The Rising is a fireball of power and energetically driven metal, set in technically accurate and highly passionate formulation. The title track The Rising is fast moving, driving and captivating, whereas the track Rising Tides is a slow yet hair raising instrumental. All songs on this album are soaking in emotional turmoil but sparks of hope within the messages, are like salvos of fireworks, bursting through, lighting up the valley of darkness, delivering you into the fold.

The song Vicious Circle is very poignant, as it is something we all have experienced, and only through a sense of pure determination, do we rise above… could this be the reason for the title The Rising, all our hopes and fears, all that would drag us down and suffocate us in a sea of madness, massive tentacles of pain and suffering… sheer death warded off by the awesome might of the Red Tide Rising, raising us up, for another gasp of air……?

Yeah, … Just that Effin’ Good !

 

Check out Red Tide Rising on their Website and all Social Media, Get to the Show, and be Swept away with The Tide! 

Buy The Album at Amazon.com

https://soundcloud.com/redtiderising

http://www.reverbnation.com/redtiderising

https://www.facebook.com/RedTideRising

https://www.facebook.com/RedTideRising/info?ref=page_internal

http://www.redtiderising.com/

---

Technorati Tags: Album,Review,TIDE,Joseph,Timmons,Xombiewoof,Magazine,Colorado,upstarts,music,band,breakout,veterans,Pool,Autumn,Storm,Breach,Silence,Version,path,Matthew,Whiteman,bands,importance,exposure,vocals,presentation,rhythms,contemporaries,Skill,blood,musicians,talent,destiny,fireball,formulation,Tides,hair,songs,turmoil,messages,salvos,fireworks,valley,song,Vicious,Circle,determination,tentacles,death,Yeah,Just,Effin,Check,Website,Social,Media,Swept,info,facebook

Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath – A Lighter Shade of Darkness

Xombiewoof Magazine Interviews Beto Martinez from Brownout about new album Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath.

Album Review and Interviewed by Joseph Timmons

Brown Sabbath is the alter ego of Austin-based psych-funk collective Brownout who delve deep into reinterpreting the catalog of metal godfathers, Black Sabbath. I want to start with the fact that this is not just a cover album, or even a close rendition, this album is a triumph of masterful composition and performance. I have heard some great covers, but this is so much more. Brownout has taken several tracks made famous by the masters of Metal, Black Sabbath and has rearranged and infused strong and hypnotic ethnic rhythms and Latin flavors to create a Funk / Metal sound that is wholly unique.

“Hand of Doom”, featuring The Black Angels’ Alex Maas on vocals, is the debut single that was first released last May as limited edition, colored splattered 10-inch vinyl with “The Wizard” as the B-side on the Ubiquity Records label. The full-length album, Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath, soon followed this past June to a much anticipated popular release.

Researching the band’s past interviews, Brownout guitarist Adrian Quesada was quoted “The Brown Sabbath idea started out like everything else we do, half inside joke, half psychotic. It was an overly ambitious attempt at challenging ourselves as musicians;” Adrian also commented “Bridging the gap between our music and Black Sabbath is not as far of a stretch as it might seem though. Sabbath was not only heavy, but soulful and funky in their own dark way. Half the band grew up as metal heads too, so it came naturally. The experience is already beginning to influence our next album of original music.”

Brownout, an 8-piece outfit formed ten years ago by members of Grammy Award-winning Latin revival orchestra Grupo Fantasma, since then Brownout evolved into a musical force all its own. After garnering their third Austin Music Award last year, the band has continued to produce music that is unflinchingly progressive, while evoking the classic influences of artists such as WAR, Cymande and Funkadelic. They’ve performed at events including Bonnaroo, High Sierra Music Festival, Pickathon, FFFFest, Bear Creek Music Festival, Utopia Festival and Pachanga Fest, while regularly touring the U.S. Brownout’s also served as a highly in-demand backing band for artists including Prince, Daniel Johnston, GZA and Bernie Worrell.

With its latest recording, Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath, they remain true to the darkness, bombast and fuzz of Sabbath’s sound, while re-imagining the music with greasy Afro-Latin horns, hypnotic percussion and psyched-out, rare-groove improvisation. Every music critic and magazine or journal of music has found this group and the album to be a phenomenal and we anxiously want to see what could be coming next.

As for our review, Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath is a tribute to the legendary music of Black Sabbath, while also being an introduction, and for some of us “old timers” a reintroduction to Urban Groove / Funk Progression. Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath has the presence of a greatest hits or anthology album yet is both fresh and boldly expressive in its originality. By nature, cover songs / albums are all too often renditions of songs that wormed their way through top “40 Pop” or that great song that got way too much airplay and are now done so often they’ve become grotesques of their former selves, leaving the listener wanting to avoid ever listening to it again. Or worse yet, there are some songs that have been done so often, that you can’t remember who originally did the song. Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath has the following songs in its joyfully creative Vinyl Grooves – Wizzard, Iron Man, N.I.B., Black Sabbath, Hand of Doom, Into the Void and Planet Caravan. Now, another great feature of this is some of the songs are instrumental in their entirety, allowing this group of talented artists to truly work their magic on us, allowing the energy of the music and rhythms to flow gracefully from the speakers, and the vocalist while having amazing talents in his original works, does a flawless rendition of Ozzy’s singularly unique voice, while not “trying” to sound like Ozzy. It is no wonder that Ozzy himself has been a great supporter of the bands performances.

Brownout’s discography includes three previously released albums including Homenaje (Freestyle Records 2008), Aguilas & Cobras (Six Degrees 2009) and Oozy (Nat Geo 2012). Presently on tour, Brownout is filling every seat and gaining an even larger following in support this fourth studio album.

The members of Brownout are Gilbert Elorreaga, Mark Gonzales, Greg Gonzalez, Josh Levy, Sweet Lou, Beto Martinez, Adrian Quesada and John Speice. In our interview we have the pleasure of speaking with Beto Martinez for a look into the “behind the scene” point of view at the what, why and when of the inspiration of this album.

How did you get your start in music?

“I grew up near the border in Laredo Texas; I lived in an area where you heard mostly Mexican / Latin Music and “Pop” Music. I have always loved Rock & Roll; I remember my first album was Metal Health by Quiet Riot, soon after I was listening to bands like Sabbath and Metallica. At 13 I got my first guitar, I started practicing and soon after I met my bassist. We’ve played music together for years, we would play in my garage, a couple years later the band formed and we started playing gigs. It’s been fun and I really find I am lucky to be doing music professionally. We play in several bands but this lineup is the core of our music, we want to be versatile and do what we love.”

First question about Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath, Why the music of Black Sabbath?

“We wanted to create from music we respected and wanted to perform, this started really as a “one off”, we had not intended to do an entire album, once that came to be, we decided to choose music that we had to get right. Once in the studio, this album really took off and became a lot more than we had intended.”

 

Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath- Official Video

The songs you chose for Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath are the major hits of Black Sabbath that, in my opinion would be highly scrutinized. Why did you select the songs you did on Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath?

“Well, we felt that these were the best to do, the original Black Sabbath songs had a natural groove to them, they lent themselves to our style and we felt that we could give them our own twist that would be well received. So far we have not been wrong. For instance, our Saxophonist and Horn’s really went to work and it blows people’s minds live. Some the use of horns and other percussion elements added a special power to the groove.”

Thinking now about the recording process, in the studio, was the recording of this album what you thought it would be, or was there a transformation in material once you started working it?

I would have to really hand this one to our Drummer, his work was inspired and he took the complicated rhythm structure and the sound to a new level. The whole band worked to create a sound that would be fluid, not overthought. In fact, much of it was very natural.

So how has the national tour been so far?

Great, the tour has had fantastic turnouts and enthusiastic crowds. We had stated on the west coast, we are now in east coast and working the way back. Every show has been great. Admittedly, this was not an album we thought we would be putting so much into and we had late bookings. We have no international dates yet, but who knows, may happen.

Does Brownout, have any other tribute style albums planned, say Beatles or Led Zeppelin?

No, not at this time, we want to concentrate on our original material, we do put covers into our sets, but we are a group that wants to be recognized for our own music.

I am a big fan of Album Art, your cover for Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath is really cool and has a nostalgic reflection to it, how did you get this caver done?

The album cover came together kind of by chance and worked great, it was an in house designer, and we felt it really portrayed what we wanted. The photo is from an old photo shoot we did a long time ago and the label has a great art team, we like it.

What do you see as the biggest help on the promotion and public response to Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath?

We’ve had some great support from public radio and the news media both locally and nationally, college radio and the really great independent stations. As far as the public, wow, it is really fantastic to look out from the stage and see all the people, I’m in a great band doing some great music, and it’s getting better each time we play.

Our special thanks to Beto Martinez for this interview from the road as the band is heading back west and to Brownout for recording an album that is powerful, inspiring and expressive. You can find Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath on Bandcamp and iTunes, additionally, follow Brownout on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud, and their website. You can also find them at their label’s website Ubiquity Records - http://www.ubiquityrecords.com.

---

Technorati Tags: Brownout,Presents,Brown,Sabbath,Lighter,Shade,Xombiewoof,Magazine,Interviews,Beto,Martinez,album,Review,Joseph,Timmons,Austin,funk,Black,fact,rendition,composition,performance,Metal,rhythms,Latin,Hand,Doom,Angels,Alex,Maas,vocals,debut,edition,vinyl,Wizard,Records,length,June,band,Adrian,Quesada,musicians,music,Half,Grammy,Award,revival,orchestra,Grupo,Fantasma,artists,Cymande,Funkadelic,events,Bonnaroo,High,Sierra,Festival,Pickathon,FFFFest,Bear,Creek,Utopia,Pachanga,Fest,Prince,Daniel,Johnston,Bernie,Worrell,bombast,fuzz,Afro,horns,percussion,improvisation,critic,journal,tribute,timers,reintroduction,Urban,Groove,Progression,presence,anthology,songs,albums,renditions,song,airplay,listener,Wizzard,Iron,Into,Void,Planet,Caravan,energy,speakers,vocalist,talents,Ozzy,supporter,bands,performances,Homenaje,Freestyle,Aguilas,Cobras,Degrees,Oozy,fourth,studio

Album Review: The Hydrothermal Vents – Secrets of the Deep

By Joseph Timmons: Xombiewoof Magazine

Available on Bandcamp https://thehydrothermalvents.bandcamp.com

Formats: Vinyl, CD, Tape and Download

Quirky but not “Campish”, The Hydrothermal Vents is a Duo with a style and talent that is quite refreshing. With a sound similar to a mix of B-52’s, Talking Heads and Laurie Anderson, they have an underwater theme to their music on Secrets of the Deep that does not “get old” but is a toe tapping delight. I definitely loved this albums ability to simply bring a smile to my face while writing, but I did suddenly have a desire for seafood…. The vocals are crisp and clear against well written music Secrets of the Deep and I am 100% sure this is a sign of good things to come. Admittedly, I wish I got a Vinyl copy for review; the sounds are ambient and trail off like wisps of breath, on vinyl it is sure to be thrilling.

Hailing from Canada, The Hydrothermal Vents state that they are dance-rock/post punk band members John Tielli and Tessa Kautzman do a fabulous job channeling both the calm stillness of the ocean, yet at time the turbulence of a stormy sea. Multi-talented and well situated to take the alt / indie world by being truly unique among experimental and contemporary at the same time.

To quote a statement from their Facebook page “The charismatic Montreal duo known as The Hydrothermal Vents, boil with a chemistry that pulls listeners deep into their imaginative world. They were drawn together by a desire to create the ultimate dance music and by a mutual love of the Pixies, an influence which, along with other post-punk bands such as the Talking Heads and the B52’s, helped shape their sound. With an experimental spirit and dreamy lyrics, The Hydrothermal Vents have created an otherworldly aural habitat, which according the POP Montreal music festival, “feels retro and original all in the same track.” With this statement, I completely agree.

Check them out on their Bandcamp page, as well as the following locations:

SOUNDCLOUD: www.soundcloud.com/thehydrothermalvents

TWITTER: www.twitter.com/HydroVents

BANDCAMP: www.thehydrothermalvents.bandcamp.com

And if ever in Montreal, Quebec, find them and get to the show, they are rich, vibrant and dynamic, definitely one for the collection.

---

Technorati Tags: Album,Review,Hydrothermal,Vents,Secrets,Deep,Joseph,Timmons,Xombiewoof,Magazine,Available,Bandcamp,Formats,Vinyl,Tape,Download,Quirky,Campish,talent,Heads,Laurie,Anderson,theme,music,albums,vocals,wisps,breath,Canada,band,John,Tielli,Tessa,Kautzman,turbulence,Multi,statement,Facebook,Montreal,chemistry,listeners,Pixies,bands,lyrics,habitat,festival,Check,locations,SOUNDCLOUD,TWITTER,HydroVents,Quebec,collection,thehydrothermalvents

Jensen® P10R-F Speaker: Classic Tone / Modern Tech

 

Jensen® P10R-F

Jensen® Musical Instrument Speakers is pleased to announce the addition of the P10R-F to our speaker offerings.

The P10R-F is for those who desire the tone of a classic broken-in 10” Alnico speaker. The P10R-F was designed by the Jensen® factory in cooperation with Fender® for the reissue of the Fender’57 Bandmaster® and the 20th Anniversary Vibro King®.

The goal was to design a P10R speaker with a more broken-in, worn sound straight out of the box. The P10R-F has a smooth, round top-end and a full-bodied low-end response; it distorts at lower levels and still maintains the Vintage classic tonalities of the legendary P10R.

Alnico speakers produce a sweet, warm tone. They respond quickly, giving the musician a “one with the amp” feel. Alnico speakers are world-renowned as the most premium speakers with the best tone.

For more information, including detailed specification sheets and sound samples for the new P10R-F, visit http://www.jensentone.com.

---

Technorati Tags: Jensen,Speaker,Classic,Modern,Tech,Musical,Instrument,Speakers,addition,offerings,Alnico,factory,cooperation,Fender,Bandmaster,Anniversary,Vibro,goal,response,Vintage,tonalities,musician,information,specification,sheets

 

 

 

A Penny for your Thoughts: the Penny Unniversity Interview

By James and Debra Romeyn – Contributing Writers for Xombiewoof Magazine

 

 

For a penny in 18th century London folks sat and talked about news over cups of coffee. These places became a center of social interaction, a focus point for the seeker of open dialog. They called this type of coffee house a “Penny Unniversity”. These places unknowingly became location to meet different people, travelers and those that would seek out thoughtful exchanges, much like the college campuses of today.

Penny Unniversity member, Jack LaCompte, has played with artists that span a wide diversity of talent and style: Michael Bolton, Bette Midler, and his band mate Ted Walker has done audio tech work for Stevie Wonder, Journey and Guns n' Roses. These musicians saw an opportunity to create something special, so the band Penny Unniversity was founded, using the name with the Old English spelling, connecting the present with the past and adorning the music world with a unique musical air.

If it's the goal of music to create a distraction and escape from everyday life, Penny Unniversity meets that goal by lifting the listener out of his/her chair and transporting him/her to airy romantic places in Rome, Paris, Capri, Corcovado and the Middle East. One might think a certain pomposity accompanies the traveler, but not so. Penny U has a way of inspiring the listener to breathe in the ocean scents and look over the blue Mediterranean in comfortable jeans.

It was our distinct pleasure to interview Penny Unniversity while on their travels to find out more and bring you a full and enlightened story. We asked Penny U to share their thoughts on the arts of writing and performing.

 

Here is our Q&A Interview.

Q. Would you please name all the band members and tell us which instruments they play?

Michael Anthony Gagliardi -Guitar, vocals and guitar synth, Rene Almodovar - Percussion and Ted Walker - Bass, synth bass, and fretless.

Q. I know you often play in Central and Southern CA and you opened for Buddy Guy and Aaron Neville last spring. But could you go back to when the band was first formed? How did you all meet?

Actually we all met at a church. Our bassist Ted Walker was the audio/video tech for this large church in Palm Desert. Steve, our first drummer was a youth Pastor and jazz trained drummer at the church. We had played together at church many times and thought we should take this beyond. I (Michael) was a musician with the church band; we all kind of had an itch to play. The economy was really bad in 2010 and we decided to make some extra money if we could. Classic rock covers were really popular at the time but never interested any of us.

I (Michael) was groomed on guys like Al DiMeola, Jeff Beck, and Allan Holdsworth. I had a classical and jazz background. Neither Ted nor Steve were ever in an instrumental group and were not hot on the idea at the time, but grew to enjoy its endless and open writing options. After the first year we replaced Steve after he left to another job in Azusa and acquired Craig via Craigslist, (no relation) ha. After a few months of rehearsals we added Percussionist Rene Almodovar to the lineup. Rene brought the icing we wanted. We eventually replaced Craig with Jack LaCompte an accomplished drummer who has toured and played with Michael Bolton, Bette Midler, and Stevie Wonder. Our foursome is now complete, and we break our performances into the "Trio" for smaller intimate concerts and our "foursome" we retain for larger shows like festivals and outdoor concerts.

Q. Who has inspired you?

Well I think for all of us Life is probably the first mention. Musically life brings out the creative animal. Musical artists have helped by introducing us to this vehicle we use to express ourselves.

Q. You seem to mutually respect each other's talent. Do you all have individual playing styles and if so how did you accomplish such a perfect blending of sounds?

We not only respect each other’s abilities but we are friends! Each of us has his specific identity, sound, and duties to fill in the making of our music. We work very well together and complement each other always. I think we understand unity and team playing since we are not 20 and trying to conquer the world. We are more like a fine wine enjoyed by a fire as you watch the sunset. There is no animosity or rivalry since we all see the same goal at the end of the day.

Q. Considering how accomplished you all are...do you feel playing with each other’s raises each other's game?

We push each other to become greater parts in the sum. We will purposefully write beyond ourselves and record one shot improvised parts to find the nature of each other. Frequently we don't allow each other to hear parts until recording day to drag the best of ourselves out in a recording session. Spontaneity is a resource that brings out a "tadaaaa" moment that the players didn't even know they had, much like a film producer who does not allow actors to see each other until shooting a scene. Life is not a scripted, written, methodical process, music shouldn't be either.

Q. You all seem to be steeped in jazz, is jazz the most essential part of your sound?

Well for me (Michael) that was the style that gave me something to chew on. I loved the composition and playing/writing skills of Al DiMeola, Paco DeLucia ,Manitas DePlata and Andreas Vollenweider. Even though I grew up playing rock as a teen it wasn't enough musically. Ted grew up in classic rock and played in several rock bands as well as being an audio tech for everyone from Journey to Guns n' Roses. However Ted's love of music was not solely rock oriented. Rene was jazz from the beginning and had a wider variety and scope in his influences than all of us, with Salsa, Brazilian, and more ethnic influences.

I don't think we consider ourselves jazz although we are on a number of jazz radio stations as well as ambient, new age, and world. Jazz is certainly a big influence. But not the contemporary or scat jazz. I never really considered Al DiMeola jazz but that's where you find his recordings. I guess that's how we view ourselves. Our current album coming in September draws from a Cinematic point of view. Movie music, sweeping melodies and orchestration is the "soup dejour" on this one. It is such a great mix of Cinematic, Acoustic, Latin, and ambient jazz that we call "Sound Tapestry" because of its stitching of so many influences.

Q. I'd like to explore the mind(s) of the writer(s) in the group. Who does the majority of the writing?

I (Michael) write all the songs, Ted helps build the parts, and is a major part of the recording, engineering and overall look of the material as well as his bass parts. Rene provides the drive, and creates the beats and rhythms, and falls easily into his place of attacking the song with the proper feel. I think I write the lions share because I am a prolific writer. I have at least ten stacks of demo Cd's plus 8 inches high of demo material ranging from Acoustic to Middle Eastern music. I can’t stop writing! It is my outlet for an overactive ADD mind I absolutely love the creative process.

Q. Your music is instrumental. With your songs it's easy to know what inspired the melody; it's usually a beautiful place. How hard is it to express your emotions through musical notes?

Though we dabble in vocal songs here and there, yes most of it is instrumental. The second you put vocals on a song it changes everything. It quickly falls into a genre, or it has to be arranged according to the "formula" musicians use for intro verse, bridge, chorus etc. I hate these parameters. This is what stifles guys like me who want to express life through notes. I naturally feel devoted and fall passionately for a rhythm; the feel, and taste. if you will, for a potential song. It is the topic that draws out the urge, the "towel ringing" I call it of melody and feeling. It is as if it was predestined to arrive, but only in its time. Some songs show up a decade later because they had the melody but not the contagion of feel, passion, and power that evokes the finished product.

Q. Is any of your music by chance or is all your songs completely intentional?

All the songs are intentional because chance is the intention of creation. When you are always in a creating process, chance is what satisfies the intent and that is one of the "eureka” moments. If you are capable of something, it will come out either by chance or intention, make sense?

Q. Which song is your favorite to perform and which are you most proud of from a creative point of view?

Definitely our newest album has some material that I am very proud of, although I bore easily, and I want to move on to the next project. I do love "San Gimignano" off the first album and of course "Escape to Capri". Both were radio favs in Europe.

Q. It's a lot of work to perform. But you all seem to have a lot of fun playing together. Are you able to relax at a gig, even when it's at a large venue, and just have fun jamming?

Yes we are relaxed, but we are very, very insistent on performing the best we can. We mull over sound issues most of all. Most times they are out of our control, but to a musician who is constantly trying to create the "climate" our sound is the greatest Achilles heel, especially if we are not able to have a sound check. We usually prefer to arrive 1-2 hours early to secure a good sound thus securing a good performance.

 

Q. What's in store for Penny Unniversity?

We will continue to record and play while exposing our group to wider audiences. With the advent of the internet and the decline of record companies and the way things used to be in the Industry, this is the only path any group can take. We are both excited and look to the future for what is to come for Penny U.

We would like to thank Penny Unniversity for taking the time to do this enlightening and inspiring interview for us and Xombiewoof Magazine. We believe your music brings folks together and uplifts their spirits, as well as expanding their minds. All the best to you and to your brilliant successes!

Follow Them on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penny-Unniversity/128078650618788

---

Technorati Tags: Penny,Thoughts,Interview,James,Debra,Romeyn,Writers,Xombiewoof,Magazine,century,London,news,cups,interaction,seeker,dialog,location,college,campuses,member,Jack,LaCompte,artists,talent,Michael,Bolton,Bette,Midler,band,Walker,Stevie,Wonder,Journey,Guns,Roses,musicians,English,music,goal,distraction,life,listener,Rome,Paris,Capri,Corcovado,Middle,East,Mediterranean,jeans,arts,Here,instruments,Anthony,Gagliardi,Guitar,vocals,Rene,Almodovar,Percussion,Bass,Central,Southern,Buddy,Aaron,Neville,Palm,Desert,Steve,drummer,youth,Pastor,musician,money,Classic,DiMeola,Jeff,Beck,Allan,Holdsworth,Neither,options,Azusa,Craig,Craigslist,relation,rehearsals,Percussionist,lineup,foursome,performances,Trio,concerts,festivals,Musical,vehicle,abilities,duties,team,sunset,rivalry,session,resource,moment,players,producer,actors,composition,skills,Paco,DeLucia,Manitas,DePlata,Andreas,Vollenweider,bands,scope,Salsa,Brazilian,radio,Jazz,recordings,album,September,Cinematic,Movie,melodies,orchestration,soup,Acoustic,Latin,Sound,Tapestry,writer,songs,rhythms,song,demo,Eastern,outlet,melody,emotions,Though,genre,formula,verse,parameters,rhythm,topic,Some,decade,contagion,passion,product,intention,creation,moments,Gimignano,Escape,Both,Europe,venue,Most,climate,Achilles,hours,performance,audiences,advent,Industry,path,successes,tech,synth