Instead of running away from his father's enormous legacy, Jason Bonham embraced it on his first official solo album, In the Name of My Father: Zepset. Recorded live in New York City, the album features Bonham and his backing band running through a number of Led Zeppelin classics, and he expertly mimics the style and subtle funk of his father, John. While it proves his technical skill as a musician, the record doesn't offer any significant new interpretations of the material, suggesting that his vision may be limited. Nevertheless, In the Name of My Father is a warm, loving tribute to one of the giants of hard rock that is entertaining in its own right.
Besides hardcore Led Zeppelin fans, it's a little known fact that Jimmy Page produced and played on a 1970 album by theatrical rocker Screaming Lord Sutch, Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends. In addition to Page's appearance (he also co-penned a few tracks), the other 'friends' included John Bonham, Jeff Beck, Nicky Hopkins, and Noel Redding. Since the album is quite difficult to find nowadays, select tracks have popped up over the years on compilations, such as the 2000 set Rock and Roll Highway.
After Terry Riley's revolutionary In C, it certainly never seemed that the compositionally brash cofounder of the minimalist movement would take on a lyrical bent. But that's what he's done on this collection of pieces for violin, guitar, and percussion. Violinist Tracy Silverman and guitarist David Tanenbaum play warmly and sublimely on Cantos Desiertos, finding pristine melodies and high, arching curves around which to spread their finesse. Tanenbaum gets unbelievably rich tones from his guitar, and his range is the one consistent ingredient throughout these pieces. He duets with Riley's son Gyan, himself an accomplished guitarist, on "Zamorra" and with percussionist William Winant on Dias de los Muertos. Winant's marimba and gongs are especially appropriate for Tanenbaum's resonant string work, fluctuating from an absolute crispness to a milky froth. Where Riley's chamber works, such as Salome Dances for Peace, are intensely rhythmic, these works veer much more stealthily toward a kind of glorious flowering, even if the blooms are in dusky colors and muted, curvy patterns.
THE TRACY G GROUP, the band featuring former DIO and WWIII guitarist Tracy "G" Grijalva., will release its new album, "Tramp", on October 13 via Sonic Night Music Club. Joining Tracy on the disc are drummers Ray Luzier (KORN) and Patrick Johansson (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, W.A.S.P.) as well as vocalist Michael Beatty and bassist Randy Oviedo.
According to a press release, "Tramp" "showcases Tracy G's blend of modern-day heavy metal." It "features bone-crushing riffs and a barrage of both instrumental and lyrical intensity along with all the guitar-hero-level licks."
Five Times Surprise brings together a volatile mix of longtime compatriots and newly forged relationships. The distinguished improvisers all boast exceptionally diverse resumes. More than finding common ground, they reveal a vast universe of possibilities fueled by creative conflagration and genre blurring. “We’re improvisers who can walk into a room and create something together,” says the project's original instigator Henry Kaiser, who then listed the salient qualities of his fellow players here: the ability to listen, kindness, generosity, and—rare in this electric realm—a sense of humor. All those factors were at work on this new recording.
This stellar production features a pair of operatic superstars, namely GRAMMY®-nominated tenor Lawrence Brownlee and soprano supreme Sarah Coburn, who continually appear in the lead roles in top houses worldwide. The remaining characters are beautifully portrayed by distinguished singers from Lithuania and Kazakhstan. Providing brilliant and sensitive choral-orchestral support is the GRAMMY®-nominated Maestro Constantine Orbelian (“the singer’s dream collaborator”) leading the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra and the Kaunas State Choir. In June 2021, Orbelian was named Music Director and Principal Conductor of New York City Opera. Bellini’s I Puritani is considered by many to offer the most beautiful music among some of his best-known operas, several of which are sublime masterpieces of the spectacular bel canto style of singing.