News - Page 378

Take two musicians who love to push the boundaries of their respective instruments, put them together, and they still probably won’t sound like the pairing of bassist Michael Manring and guitarist Kevin Kastning. The duo have just released In Winter, a twenty track album offering what Manring describes as “avant garde, improvised music with a mysterious, atmospheric quality.” The album...

Dan Briggs and his new group Trioscapes have released their debut album, Separate Realities on Metal Blade Records. Originally started to do a one-off show of the Mahavishnu Orchestra’s Celestial Terrestrial Commuters, the sax/bass/drums trio brings together elements of prog rock, metal and jazz. Briggs, who lays down the low end for the prog metal outfit Between the Buried and...

Since its announcement, the Black Sabbath reunion has had nothing but difficulty after difficulty. Plans for a world tour and new album were put on hold after lead guitarist Tony Iommi was diagnosed with Lymphoma, while drummer Bill Ward recently declared his contract unsignable. There’s been no official statement on Ward’s departure, but bassist Geezer Butler weighed in on the...

Kill Devil Hill’s long awaited self-titled debut is now available from SPV/Steamhammer. The band, comprised of ex-Pantera/Down bassist Rex Brown, drummer Vinny Appice, guitarist Mark Savon and vocalist Jason “Dewey” Bragg finalized its lineup in March of 2011 with the addition of Brown. “Vinny is a brilliant drummer, and of course, I was immediately interested when he asked me whether...

John Mayer has returned with Born and Raised, his first album since 2009 as well as his infamous 2010 Playboy interview that put him in the media doghouse. Taking a page from folk rock from the ’70s, Mayer channels the spirit of singer-songwriters like Neil Young with rich acoustic guitars and harmonica throughout. The album is underpinned by bassist Sean...

Bassist/composer Linda Oh follows up her 2009 debut with her second solo effort, Initial Here, an eclectic blend of music as diverse as the bassist’s background. Oh was born in Malaysia to Chinese parents and was raised in Western Australia. Her cultural heritage is what she draws upon for Initial Here. Her early musical training was in classical bassoon, and...

Following up to their Grammy winning debut album, Revelator, the husband-wife led Tedeschi Trucks Band releases Live – Everybody’s Talkin’ today. Anchored by bassist Oteil Burbridge, the 11-piece group performs tunes from Revelator with some added twists, plus some covers of tunes by Stevie Wonder, Muddy Waters, Bill Withers, Joe Cocker and others. A new tune, “Nobody’s Free”, also makes...

Rock group Van Halen has postponed all their tour dates following their June 26th concert in New Orleans, making a total of 31 performances to be rescheduled. Now anchored by bassist Wolfgang Van Halen, the band hasn’t released an official statement, though the insider website Van Halen News Desk has dismissed rumors of band feuding by stating the group is...

Bassist John Carey has released his newest solo effort, Oh So Funky, an album full of music by The Meters. Summoning the spirit of George Porter’s playing, Carey recruited a top-notch band for the project including drummer Anton Fig, guitarist Oz Noy, and Andy Narell on steelpans, who fills the original role of organ. Late Show bassist Will Lee also...

Jazz/rock supergroup Return to Forever is releasing a 3-disc set of music culled from over 200 performances from last year’s world tour. The group, originally formed in the early ’70s had reunions in 1983 and 2008, before a new line-up joined together in 2010. That line-up – including existing RTF members Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White – joined...

Prog rock supergroup Flying Colors is gearing up for a European tour this fall, in support of the band’s debut album, released in March. Formed by ex-Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy, Flying Colors is anchored by bassist Dave LaRue, and features Neal Morse on keys and vocals, Casey McPherson on lead vocals and guitar, and Steve Morse on lead guitar....

ALO describes their latest album, Sounds Like This, as a “swing back” to their older sound. Anchored by Steve Adams’ thick yet bubbly bass work, the album presents an upbeat jam vibe while mixing rock and funky beats. Besides going into the studio without set songs, Sounds Like This was recorded in the band’s hometown of San Francisco, which Adams...