The New Mastersounds are wasting no time kicking off 2021 with lightning-fast momentum with the release of a new digital single “Fast Man” on January 1, 2021 via bandleader and guitarist Eddie Roberts’ music platform Color Red. The track was recorded 20 years ago as part of the band’s first record Keb Darge Presents: The New Mastersounds.
“Fast Man” is an ode to deep funk of the 60s and is a cover of a rare funk track by The PC’s Ltd. Often played during the band’s explosive live performances, the track’s energy lends itself well when the group is joined by horn sections and has become a fan favorite and staple in their set lists. “'Fast Man' was recorded as part of the first NMS album. However, it didn't make it to the album that was originally released 20 years ago (2001),” explains Roberts, “This was actually because shortly after recording it, we became embarrassed by the break with us shouting out 'M.A.S.T.E.R. We're The Mastersounds', as we thought people would say 'who the hell are they anyway?'. 21 years later, it seems pretty funny that that's what stopped it making the cut, so for the re-master and re-press of our first album we decided to include it, and also release it digitally as a single for the first time ever!”
In an age where artists get caught up with keeping up with the times and fitting into the conversation, Josh Hoyer and Soul Colossal make music for grown folks with their real, authentic songwriting. On March 26, 2021, Hoyer and his musical cohorts will release ‘Natural Born Hustler,’ his fifth full-length album of timeless songs slated to last through the decades. The LP will come out on Color Red, the music platform founded by Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersounds.
Produced by Eddie Roberts, ‘Natural Born Hustler’ speaks to fans of early 70s funky blues, doo-wop with a modern twist, and spellbinding psychedelic soul. From start to finish, each song breathes a life of its own into the record and it is evident that Hoyer’s spirited fanbase and eclectic palette of sounds are not confined by age, upbringing, religion, creed, or differences—they are meant for anyone who seeks the medicine of music.
Heavily influenced by artists with timeless appeal, Hoyer recalls listening to classic records by The Temptations and Etta James and reflecting on what makes them shine. “I listen to records—I don’t do singles, he states, “I look for cohesiveness and something that can be listened to on a road trip.” Take a time machine to 40 years from now and ‘Natural Born Hustler’ can easily have a place on a record shelf next to those iconic albums. “Hustler” comes out of the gate swinging as a rallying cry as we face unprecedented times and uncertainty. With its commanding horn lines and swirling organs, it sounds like equal parts Charles Bradley and Baby Huey with funky, gritty vocals from the early 70s and psychedelic soul music of today. “Take Your Time” takes listeners even further back in time drenched with 60s vibes inspired by female vocal greats like Aretha Franklin with backup singers and a groove-oriented full band. “Changing” saunters between the line of 60s inspiration blended with modern soul of artists on Daptone Records.
While striving to keep the sounds timeless, Hoyer does not shy away from topics relevant in today’s climate. “Sunday Lies” calls out the chasm between word and action when those in power corrupt their message. He observes how voter dynamic is often swayed when politicians co-opt their platforms with religious messages that inhibit people of faith to accept the truth. In contrast, “The Night” challenges listeners to let go and “let the evening become the night.” The lyrics reference taking the time to let all of life’s challenges and frustrations dissipate while the night takes you for a ride. “Automatic” exhibits enduring lyrics as a testimony of true love and its ability to make all of life’s woes evaporate when you are in the arms of your lover.
Recording the record at Color Red studios and working with Eddie Roberts as a producer allowed Hoyer to achieve his long-time goal of translating his raw and authentic live sound into the studio format. The live show is where the band shines and the vision was met in the studio to capture the record straight-to-tape in an analog format on the studio’s Tascam 388. The relaxed studio vibe with Roberts at the helm let each song organically form how it is and fit with the band’s mentality—not stressing too much over mistakes, recording live with minimal overdubs, and letting each track breathe a life of its own into the record.
Hailing from the unlikely creative pocket of Lincoln, Nebraska, Hoyer formed Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal in 2012 as a working band to bring music for the people by the people. Known for their magnetic live performances that draw in crowds with their palpably authentic music, the raucous funk and smooth soul emanating from the stage dutifully pays homage to the past soul giants while simultaneously charging forward, piloting themselves into the modern era. Joining Hoyer (keyboards/vocals), the award-winning five-piece band features Blake DeForest (trumpet), Mike Keeling (bass), Benjamin Kushner (guitar), and Harrison ElDorado (drums). Inspired by the sounds of Stax, Motown, Muscle Shoals, New Orleans, Philly, and San Francisco, the band continuously crosses musical boundaries both in style and era and joins forces each show with a common goal - to have the crowd dancing so much they forget even their smallest troubles.
After three full-length studio albums, including the 2016 release of Running for Love produced by Ken Coomer (Wilco, Uncle Tupelo) and recorded at Nashville's historic Sound Emporium, Hoyer appeared as a contestant on NBC’s The Voice. With attention garnered from the show, the band embarked on their first European tour; a 27-city stint capped with a live album release from their show in Brussels, Belgium. In 2019, the band released Do It Now recorded at Silver Street in Ashland, NE and Make Believe Studios in Omaha, NE. The album drew rave reviews from European Publications such as Blues Magazine hailing, “Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal still prove to be at the top of the contemporary soul movement.” The band promoted the album on their second European tour; a 37-city outing spanning 6 different countries.
With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing the music industry at large to a halt and ceasing national tours, Hoyer remained dedicated to his craft by writing more than another album’s worth of material and continuing to connect to listeners through live streams. Although ‘Natural Born Hustler’ was written before the challenges of 2020, much of the music seemed to prophesy the chaos and delivers the healing power of soul music for listeners. Currently, the band is preparing old and new material alike for the upcoming 2021 tours once they can get back to work and is poised to lift people up and bring people together with their live show. After having so much time to think about the art form in this downtime, Hoyer realizes now, more than ever, the magic and medicine of congregating with the sanctity of live music.
‘Natural Born Hustler’ couldn’t be a more aptly titled album for a hard-working family man making music and staying true to his roots. Anyone carrying the same spirit will revel in the energetic soul shouting and vivid painting of walking through life while taking in the peaks and valleys on one’s journey. As such, ‘Natural Born Hustler’ is guaranteed to warm the ears and hearts of every person it touches.
The New Mastersounds’ guitarist, bandleader, and producer Eddie Roberts, has joined forces with Chicago’s West Side soul sensation, Omar Coleman, to release Eddie Roberts Presents Omar Coleman: Strange Times via his record label and music platform Color Red. When Chicago-based producer David Vandenberg brought The New Mastersounds to the US for their first time to open for Greyboy All-Stars in 2004, little did he know nearly two decades later there would be full-circle energy tied into that first night out in Chicago and working with Omar Coleman, an icon-clad staple in the city heralded as ‘Home of the Blues.’ On Friday, March 19th, Coleman will release his debut single on Roberts’ imprint, title track “Strange Times.”
“Stange Times” is a reflection of initial conversations with Roberts during Coleman’s 2020 sessions at Color Red Studios (Denver, CO) testifying the bizarre state of America amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The exchange kept running back to the strange times that they were living in and Coleman took the stanza and ran with it. He immediately compiled lyrics he scribbled out on pieces of paper and knocked out lyrics from start to finish. Roberts approached the album combining classic blues with funkier blues and captured the rawness and immediacy of the music by recording through tape on Color Red Studios’ Tascam 388. “I hear Omar’s voice as a cross between Muddy Waters and Charles Bradley,” he states, “I tried to reflect those qualities in music approach and songwriting as well as the way we recorded the album and built the instrumentation of the tracks.” Joining Coleman and Roberts on “Strange Times” are Dan Africano (Ghost Light) on bass, Chris Spies (Matador! Soul Sounds) on keyboards and organ, Carl Sorenson (Dragondeer) on drums, Eric Bloom (Lettuce) on trumpet, Nick Gerlach (Michal Menert) on saxophone, Adrienne Short on viola and Kari Clifton on violin.
Whether dating back to picking up a harmonica at his local music shop to pass downtime as a barber or deep diving into instructional books on leathersmithing, a now 10-year side hustle of Coleman’s, curiosity and refusal to be confided to a singular scene have proven to be pillars of longevity in Coleman’s career. After cutting his teeth at Eddy Clearwater’s Sunday jam, he took the pluge to become a full-fleged professional touring musician in 2010. He’d embark on month-long tours in Brazil twice a year, make frequent appearances in Japan, and perform over 30 dates in Europe both solo and with as the lead vocalist/harmonica player in the award-winning Sean Carney Band, a group that has won the International Blues Challenge. He’s had notable plays as the headliner for “Blues for a Cure” benefit in Columbus Ohio for 3 years straight; Spain Blues Fest; San Francisco Blues Festival, and more and has been featured on the all-star compilation Diamonds in the Rough: Chicago Harmonica Project.
While “Strange Times” is reflective of the modern state of the world, the bulk of the rest of album will unveil classic blues themes and uncanny coincidences dating back to that first meeting of Roberts and David Vandenberg (who also produced Coleman’s 2017 album West Side Soul) in the early 00s. On Roberts’ very first night in Chicago, Vandenberg took him to Rosa’s, a legendary blues club on the West Side of town, a club that Coleman had been playing for decades. While laying down his original tune “Old Man Teaser,” Coleman explained it was a story about the lady behind the bar at Rosa’s teasing all the older blues musicians.
An instance like that goes beyond coincidence and demonstrates the ripple effect of Color Red’s collaborative spirit and the miniscule degrees of separation in their musical network. As for the album’s title, it’s an ode to The New Mastersounds’ 2001 debut record, Keb Darge Presents: The New Mastersounds, that was championed by the iconic Scotish DJ and curator launching the band into a 20+ year career and nine more records to boot. Now, the baton is passed to Roberts as a leading voice in the modern funk and soul revival era with notable producer and bandleader accolades and the launch of Color Red that curates top-notch musical talent from all over the globe.
Eddie Roberts Presents Omar Coleman: Strange Times will come out on August 6th, 2021 and is now available for pre-order on vinyl and CD.
To learn more about Omar Coleman and this collaboration, visit: omarcolemanmusic.com
Virtuoustic guitarist Marcus Rezak has announced the release of his upcoming EP ‘Truth in Sound’ coming out on April 22, 2021 distributed via Color Red. The follow-up record to his 2018 solo debut Gateway to the Galaxy features drummer Russ Lawton, bassist Tony Markellis, and keyboardist Ray Paczkowski of Trey Anastasio Band alongside master tabla player Kaylan Pathak. The lead single “Light of the Moon” is out today accompanied by a Kickstarter campaign to support the album.
Rezak first connected with the members of Trey Anastasio Band while performing a Shred is Dead (the high-octane Grateful Dead tribute project Rezak leads with a rotating cast of top-call musicians) show at Nectars in Burlington, VT in November 2019. The synchronistic grooves and newfound chemistry led Rezak to invite the guys to record the new material he had been writing and they enthusiastically obliged. Rezak and his collaboators went into Tank Recording Studio (Fish Tank) in Burlington, VT and tracked the four tracks on the EP with Ben Collete (studio owner/operator and Phish FOH engineer) at the helm engineering the session. Spurring from the energy of the 2019 Shred is Dead performance, the musical chemistry was natural with the veteren musicians feeding off of Rezak’s preparation and eloquent compositions. “Recording with Marcus for his new album 'Truth in Sound' felt like we had been playing together for years—cool songs with deep grooves, just the way I like it,” remarks Russ Lawton on the sessions.
“Light of the Moon,” the lead single off the forthcoming EP is a true story about people of the night connecting through the love of music and celebrating cathartically in the light of the moon with dance, joy, and memories at the core. The lyrics speak to carefree feelings, letting go of worries, and sending all of your vulnerabilities into space. “The story is inspired by the times we find ourselves in the light of the moon, who we are with, where we are, and what we remember in those special moments,” says Rezak. The single is a catalyst for the overarching themes of healing through trying times while simultaneously being connective of Gateway to the Galaxy’s interests in outer space. Markellis lays down a one-of-a-kind strut on the bass and Pathak’s percussion adds an element of global music flavors with his tabla work during the solo section and expressive nuance on chimes, congas, shekere, and more.
In addition to “Light of the Moon” release, Rezak has launched a Kickstarter campaign to support the record. Perks range from downloads and pre-orders of vinyl and CDs and delve into curated experiences, guitar lessons, regional listening parties, private concerts and more. Watch the video and learn more about the project here.
To celebrate the release of ‘Truth in Sound,’ Rezak will perform a pair of east coast shows with Nate Edgar (The Nth Power), Cotter Ellis (Swimmer), and Scott Hannay (Mr. F) at Nectar’s in Burlington, VT on Friday, April 23rd and Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke, MA on Saturday, April 24th.
Marcus Rezak has released his sophomore album ‘Truth in Sound,’ a virtuosic guitar-driven excursion through the realms of rock, progressive, jam, and groove-oriented music featuring Russ Lawton, Tony Markellis, and Ray Paczkowski of Trey Anastasio Band along with Kalyan Pathak on tabla and percussion.
After performing a Shred is Dead (Rezak's high-octane Grateful Dead tribute project with a rotating cast of top-call musicians) show at Nectar's in Burlington, VT in November 2019, Rezak knew his newfound musical chemistry with Russ Lawton had to escalate beyond the one-off performance. He invited Lawton and his TAB colleagues to record new material he had been writing and they enthusiastically obliged. 'Truth in Sound' was recorded at Tank Recording Studio in Burlington, VT and engineered by Ben Collette (studio owner/operator who has served as an audio engineer for Trey Anastasio and Phish since 2004). The band took the energy sparked by that initial Shred is Dead performance and leveraged it in 4 invigorating tracks with Rezak's preparation and eloquent compositions. All of the guitar tracks and mixing were done by Joe Hettinga of Third Coast Recording Company.
Rezak approached 'Truth in Sound' with a songwriter and story-telling mindset. While the album displays the same fierce jams and guitar shredding that his debut 'Gateway to the Galaxy' emitted into the universe, Rezak's focus on 'Truth in Sound' is showcasing heartfelt lyrics and musical healing to mirror his experiences since his initial release. During the challenges of COVID, he felt compelled to uplift and fill in where depression and confusion had become a part of so many people's everyday lives. In those initial lockdown months, renegade-style drive-up concerts were some of the only ways to keep music present for both musicians and music lovers alike. He saw a new purpose while observing his music keep those isolated in good company and helping release some endorphins. "The final outcome of this record truly encapsulates a time in my life, through a sound, that I hope brings healing, joy, and excitement to those with open ears," says Rezak of the new EP.
The album's single "Light of the Moon" is a true story about people of the night connecting through their love of music, celebrating cathartically in the light of the moon reveling in dance, joy, and memories. Markellis lays down a one-of-a-kind strut on the bass and Pathak’s percussion work adds an element of global music flavors with his tabla work during the solo section and expressive nuance on chimes, congas, shekere. "Borderline" is another true story about modern love and the primal connection humans can have with one another. The inspiration for the song comes from the compassion humans uncontrollably have to want to heal the unfortunate trauma of others. Rezak lays down a long and well-crafted 70s-style guitar solo over a set of extended chord progression with several key changes making for a climactic resolution to the song's finale. The solo section also features Joe Hettinga playing beautiful and delicate piano parts. "Leaving" details traveling musicians' life on the road—the feeling of being somewhere you call home and leaving to pursue your passion can be bittersweet, especially when you're just getting to become close to someone. The track is inspired by a trip to the east coast in 2019 and the feeling of separation while also being a free-floating spirit with the need to explore unforeseen roads ahead. The song features another extended psychedelic jam to cathartically heal and shed our skin again. "Glitter Pillow" is the only instrumental track on the album that is a magnum opus of progressive rock, funk, and jazz. Each collaborator shines in Rezak's guitar-driven odyssey that references back to 'Gateway to the Galaxy' with a more groove-oriented twist. The track has become a big dance party during live performances with its initial 70s harmonic vibe propelling into a mystical minor improv section that builds and compounds into fierce energy from the entire band. The solo section is a complete funk breakdown highlighted through Paczkowski's clavinet and the rhythm section's heavy groove that paves the way for Rezak's guitar solo. "The inspiration for this song comes from a real pillow that is made from glitter when you just want to shine bright," says Rezak.
Over the past fifteen months, Freekbass has kept busy launching his weekly ‘Saturday Night Chit-Chat’ show and releasing a steady stream of new singles and content. His latest effort “ Drive” is a summer soulful groove anthem perfect for driving long stretches of highway and ushering in a post-COVID world to enjoy the simple pleasures in life. Taken from the pages of the church of Sly Stone, the new single features Nigel Hall of Lettuce on vocals and clavinet. The track is available via Color Red on Friday, June 11th.
Wanting to keep the funk raw and loose and reminiscent of albums like ‘Fresh’ by Sly & the Family Stone, Freekbass crafted the groove and it was evident that Hall would be the perfect voice to fit the mix and lend his chops on clavinet. The two met sharing the stage at Bear Creek Music Festival and he happily obliged to be a part of the tune. “Drive” also features longtime collaborator and touring vocalist of Freekbass & The Bump Assembly Reilly Comisar to fill the track out with sultry high-end leads and lush vocal harmonies.
Co-written by longtime creative partner, Angie Wilson, the lyrics reminisce about the feeling of life on the road and embracing any journey that lies ahead. “I’ve always been obsessed with truckers and living the road-life. As touring musicians, there are a lot of similarities, and I have been missing that life since touring came to an abrupt gaily in 2020. So I wanted to write a song to capture that feeling,” says Freekbass.
The music video reflects the spirit of the open road and was filmed in both Cincinnati, Ohio, home of Freekbass and Cosimar and New Orleans, Louisiana where Hall resides. “‘Drive’ reminds me of that perfect summer tune, driving in your car, windows down, sun in your face," says Wilson who also directed the video, "The video takes you on a road trip with Freekbass, Hall, and Comisar, each one driving the open road, enjoying the scenery along the way. By the end of the journey, we discover their destiation wasn’t a place, but each other, celebrating with some much-awaited post-vaccination hugs."
In addition to the release of “Drive,” Freekbass is gearing up to release his second record via Color Red, record label/music platform founded by Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersounds. ‘Krameria,’ produced by Roberts and recorded at Color Red Studios in Denver, Colorado, will be available this fall and is available for pre-order HERE.
Denver-based guitarist Marcus Rezak has announced a tour in support of his latest album ‘Truth in Sound.’ The 4-track sophomore EP features Russ Lawton, Ray Paczkowski, and the late Tony Markellis of Trey Anastasio Band and Kalyan Pathak on percussion and tabla.
The tour kicks off this weekend with East Coast plays in New York City and Philadelphia and continues throughout the 4th of July weekend with stops in Frederick, MD; Richmond, VA; Roanoke, VA; and Charleston, SC. Rezak will headline Denver’s Levitt Pavilion, a non-profit outdoor theater hosting numerous free performances on Thursday, July 15th prior to another East Coast jaunt, stops in the Southwest, and capping the tour off with appearances at Summer Camp Music Festival in Chillicothe, IL and Deadwood Jam in Deadwood, SD.
Full tour schedule & lineups:
6/27 - Cafe Wha? - New York, NY *
6/30 - 118 North - Philadelphia, PA *
7/1 - Cafe 611 - Frederick, MD %
7/2 - The Camel - Richmond, VA %
7/3 - 5 Points Music Sanctuary - Roanoke, VA %
7/4 - Charleston Pour House - Charleston, SC %
7/6 - Nectar's - Burlington, VT $
7/7 - Zenbarn - Waterbury, VT &
7/8 - Stone Church - Brattleboro, VT &
7/9 - T-Rex Theater - Essex, VT &
7/15 - Levitt Pavilion Denver - Denver, CO *
7/24 - Rancho Relaxo - Austin, TX %
7/31 - Empire Control Room - Austin, TX @
8/7 - The Lodge at Woods Boss Brewing - Denver, CO !
8/13 - La Boca - Middleton, CT ^
8/14 - The Stone Church Music Club - Newmarket, NH ^
8/20-8/22 - Summer Camp Music Festival - Chillicothe, IL
9/18 - Deadwood Jam - Deadwood, SC +
*Truth in Sound Band feat. Shred is Dead
% Shred is Dead ft. John Morgan Kimock and more
$ Mega Dead ft. Marcus Rezak, Todd Stoops, Zach Nugent, Adrian Tramontano, Jay Burwick, and Matt Dolliver
& Balderdash ft. Marcus Rezak, Todd Stoops, Ryan Dempsey, Jay Burwick, Adrian Tramontano, and Matt Dolliver
@ Marcus Rezak Truth in Sound Band ft. Nikki Glaspie
! Marcus Rezak / Jason Hann Duo
^ Marcus Rezak’s Truth in Sound Band ft. Nate Edgar
+Shred is Dead ft. Vinnie Amico (moe.), Jason Hann (SCI), and Mark Joseph (The Big Wu)
After the 2020 presidential election, Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersounds composed an uplifting and buoyant instrumental tune and invited some of his top-call vocal collaborators to contribute lyrics to the arrangement. Josh Hoyer’s rendition happened in perfect synchronicity as he had written down the uplifting lyrics to have in the can for whenever an opportunity called for them. Sure enough, he got a call from Eddie literally 10 minutes after putting the pen down inviting him to write lyrics and sing on the tune. Hoyer’s lyrics greet a dawning of a new and brighter day for everyone who was buried in tension and stress from years past and focus on a message of hope and inclusivity in years to come.
Lee Turley teams up with his fellow Berklee College of Music alum and Color Red collaborator, Marcus Rezak, in a powerful electronic rock anthem "Triumph." Turley originally framed the song as a high-octane electro-dance spirit and adding Rezak’s guitars morphed it into a rock heater that could be blasted through stadium speakers. Based in Asheville, NC with over 10 years of working extensively with the likes of Papadosio, Tauk, Aqueous, and more, Turley has helped pioneer the style and influence of bringing remixing into the live touring and music scene. When mixed with Rezak’s virtuosity on the guitar and pedigree for composition, this collaboration epitomizes two musical lightning bolts striking in the same place.
In his debut solo release coming out via Color Red on August 6, 2021, Danny Mayer (Eric Krasno Band, Alan Evans Trio) concocts a mixture of old-school psychedelic funk blended with a “Go-Go”-style drumbeat in “Basic Goodness.” The song title is inspired by a concept coined by Tibetan spiritual teacher Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. “Basic Goodness” observes that humans beings are wired to experience joy through entities as simple as sound and color. The concept extends into how nature provides the basic needs for human survival.
"That awareness that our needs are being met, that we’re being taken care of on a basic level, tends to lend itself nicely to a more relaxed state where things don’t feel so threatening and at which point you can kind of start grooving with the world around you. That’s really all this song is—a relaxed and playful groove based on the concept of basic goodness," says Mayer.
Originating from a drum groove his friend Colin Jalbert sent him, Mayer utilized the downtime of the past year to learn how to record from home. He made a loop from Colin’s groove, added Moog bass, bass guitar, and percussion, which laid the rhythmic groundwork. The guitar parts came next, with relative ease, but they really come together beautifully with some harmonized melodies out of the guitar solo. This track is the lead single off of a full-length record composed by Mayer during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to the release of "Basic Goodness," Mayer will be playing a pair of shows at Denver's Knew Conscious on August 13th & 14th with Star Kitchen, psychedelic funk band also featuring Marc Brownstein (The Disco Biscuits) on bass, Rob Marscher (Matisyahu) on keyboards, and Marlon Lewis (Lauryn Hill) on drums. While in Denver, the group will be recording additional material at Color Red Studios to appear on a forthcoming EP.
The dynamic instrumental cinematic funk/soul duo, Hot Mustard, is proud to announce the release of their debut album, Mother Sauce, on Eddie Roberts' (The New Mastersounds) Color Red label. Drawing influence from mid/late 1960s and early 1970s funk and soul, the building blocks of first-generation boom-bap hip-hop, multimedia artist and guitarist/ producer Jack Powell and bassist Nick Carusos successfully work their own distinctive flavors into classic recipes with Mother Sauce. Simply put, Hot Mustard is as retro as it is radical, and the end result is nothing short of intensely addictive.
Track by track, the debut album offers an unpretentious, yet decadent menu of sonic flavors, effortlessly weaving chopped dry-aged drum arrangements with buttery bass lines, twang infused funk guitar licks and 70’s synth-inspired string nostalgia, all while retaining the time-honored, refined sense of taste that made labels like Stax and Atlantic Records household names. Fueling the record throughout is Big Brass Beats, the all brass horn section out of Brooklyn, NY, featuring horn parts written and arranged by Grammy-nominated trumpeter Jordan McLean (Antibalas) with Dave “Smoota” Smith (TV On The Radio) holding down the trombone.
“The collaboration with Jordan and Dave ended up being an essential part of the album. When two different worlds collide, sometimes it can be messy, but other times it works in unique and interesting ways. With this record, it felt like we had created something strange and special, while keeping it fun and refreshing,” explains Powell.
On August 20th, Hot Mustard’s second single, “Window Seat,” will drop on all streaming platforms. Accompanying the single is the animated video, a delightfully odd tale created by Jack Powell who goes under the artist moniker of Opus Thimble. HM’s unique musical vision becomes consummate with the addition of Powell’s Monty Pythonesque visual animations. “The video, to me, is basically ‘a day in the life of a creative introvert’. It’s one of the days in which you get the win, so to speak. I try not to indulge much of what the video means to me personally because I think that it’s important to give the viewer an opportunity to apply it to their own life in the way they feel it.” says Powell.
Accomplishing timelessness in any art medium is always the gold standard, and with Window Seat, both sonically and visually, Hot Mustard has accomplished this and more.
Shakedown Street, Colorado’s premiere, longstanding Grateful Dead tribute group, will perform at Knew Conscious in Denver, CO on Saturday, August 28th. Doors are at 10pm and music will go from 11 pm until 3 am.
Since 1987, Shakedown Street has been winning over the ears and hearts of fans in Colorado and beyond curating select sets from the iconic band, playing both electric and acoustic formats of shows, and have solidified themselves as well-studied purveyors of the iconic band. On Saturday, fans should expect a well-rounded night of Grateful Dead classics and deep cuts alike for a multi-hour, exhilarating experience that will keep them dancing well into the night.
Knew Conscious is a 501(c)(7) non-profit social club around the arts located at 2350 Lawrence St. in Denver, CO. To attend, a membership is required and patrons can sign up online or at the door for $12/month. Once registered, members can buy tickets to the event. Complimentary beverages are available to members during the performance and attendees will are immersed in the stunning digital artwork of Knew Consciouus’ owner/founder Kurt Redeker that is displayed throughout the venue.
For those who cannot attend or live outside of Colorado, the show will be streamed on Knew Conscious’ Facebook, Twitch, and YouTube channels.
Knew Conscious is enforcing a strict COVID protocol where patrons are required to present proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test prior to entry.
Lamar Williams Jr. is building off the momentum of joining the international funk group The New Mastersounds during their 20th-anniversary tour and the release of their Billboard-charting record ‘Shake It’ in 2019. The son of the late Lamar Williams, who played bass with The Allman Brothers 1972-1976 has released a brand new original solo single “Cold As Ice” available now on Color Red. Succeeding last Friday’s release of “A Brighter Day,” a collaboration series launched by The New Mastersounds that featured renditions of the Eddie Roberts arrangement with vocals crafted by fellow Color Red artists Josh Hoyer and Adryon de Leon, Williams’ version was the capstone interpretation in the series and it was the perfect catapult to set the stage for the eclectic vocalist’s new solo release.
Lamar Williams Jr. ruminates on bringing racial justice to the forefront and breaking generational apathy in “Cold As Ice.” Williams reflects on the blessings and strange curses of the pandemic and the heightened consciousness the time presented to slow down and fight systemic racism. Unlike past eras, this was a time where people from all walks of life and all backgrounds would stand up in the streets and put in actionable work to create changes in an oppression system and amplify the voices of people of color. With the hope that everybody can remain on the same team and continue to put in the work, he imparts a core value of love and its ability to heal, grow, and nurture in every situation. Produced by Eddie Roberts at Color Red Studios in Denver, CO and co-written with Emmy-nominated Nashville songwriter Joshua C.S., Williams is joined by James Dumm on guitar, Casey Russell on organ, Jiho Han on bass, and Will Trask on drums in a heavy funk-rock call for change.
Over the past few months, Williams has been on tour with North Mississippi Allstars, made several appearances with Oteil & Friends, and has been working remotely with Roberts and a variety of collaborators to flesh out a forthcoming solo album set to release in 2022.
Founding members of The New Mastersounds & The Greyboy Allstars have formed The Rare Sounds featuring Eddie Roberts (The New Mastersounds), Robert Walter (The Greyboy Allstars), Chris Stillwell (The Greyboy Allstars), and Zak Najor (Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, formerly GBA). The group has released their debut single "Yeah, You" ahead of their debut performances at Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver, CO on October 1st & 2nd.
Walter had workshopped "Yeah, You!" in several projects, but it found its home with The Rare Sounds during the band’s session at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco, CA in August 2020. Walter describes “Yeah, You!” as “70s jazz-funk and fusion before the edges and dissonance were smoothed over to make it more commercial.” The modal melodies over a funky beat capture a sense of urgency and psychedelic possibilities to be explored by a new ensemble of trailblazers in the modern funk and soul revival. Although the project is new, all four members have played together in many configurations over the years and have an automatic chemistry and sense of musical shorthand.
The band will be releasing additional tracks from their Hyde Street Studios session in the coming months and plan on booking additional performances in select markets to showcase the material.
During the band's upcoming performances at Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom, Positive Legacy will be running a canned food drive and giving away a prize package that includes the inaugural box of the band's namesake Rare Sounds record club powered by Roberts' music discovery platform and record label, Color Red. Selection in the box include: The Greyboy Allstars' West Coast Boogaloo, The New Mastersounds' Keb Darge Presents, and Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings' Dap Dippin'. Anyone who brings canned food to donate is entered to win and a winner will be selected during set break each night.
Purchase tickets to the band's' Cervantes' shows here.
The New Mastersounds’ guitarist, bandleader, and producer Eddie Roberts, has joined forces with Chicago’s West Side soul sensation, Omar Coleman, to release Eddie Roberts Presents Omar Coleman: Strange Times via his record label and music platform Color Red. When Chicago-based producer David Vandenberg brought The New Mastersounds to the US for their first time to open for Greyboy All-Stars in 2004, little did he know nearly two decades later there would be full-circle energy tied into that first night out in Chicago and working with Omar Coleman, an icon-clad staple in the city heralded as ‘Home of the Blues.’ Today, Coleman has released the third single on Roberts’ imprint, "You've Been Cheatin'."
When you put “You’ve Been Cheatin’” in a musical centrifuge, you extract a multitude of depth within classic blues themes. With Eddie Roberts producing the track, there are extracted elements of Daptone-esque horn lines, guitar riffs and organ stabs tastefully placed throughout, and a viscous layer of strings pads to contrast the rhythmic particles present throughout the composition. Coleman’s harmonica wails and tell-it-like-it-is vocals call out a lover’s infidelity and demand the truth be told in a precursor to his full-length album ’Strange Times,’ coming out via Color Red in early 2022. Joining Coleman on the track are Dan Africano (Ghost Light) on bass, Chris Spies (Matador! Soul Sounds) on keys, Cole Rudy (Dragondeer) on guitar, Carl Sorensen (Dragondeer) on drums, Eric “Benny” Bloom (Lettuce) on trumpet and Nick Gerlach (Michal Menert) on saxophone.
Whether dating back to picking up a harmonica at his local music shop to pass downtime as a barber or deep diving into instructional books on leather smithing, a now 10-year side hustle of Coleman’s, curiosity and refusal to be confined to a singular scene have proven to be pillars of longevity in Coleman’s career. After cutting his teeth at Eddy Clearwater’s Sunday jam, he took the plunge to become a full-fledged professional touring musician in 2010. He’d embark on month-long tours in Brazil twice a year, make frequent appearances in Japan, and perform over 30 dates in Europe both solo and with as the lead vocalist/harmonica player in the award-winning Sean Carney Band, a group that has won the International Blues Challenge. He’s had notable plays as the headliner for “Blues for a Cure” benefit in Columbus Ohio for 3 years straight; Spain Blues Fest; San Francisco Blues Festival, and more and has been featured on the all-star compilation Diamonds in the Rough: Chicago Harmonica Project.
Coleman's debut single and title track “Strange Times” is reflective of the modern state of the world while the bulk of the rest of the album will unveil classic blues themes and uncanny coincidences dating back to that first meeting of Roberts and David Vandenberg (who also produced Coleman’s 2017 album West Side Soul) in the early 00s. On Roberts’ very first night in Chicago, Vandenberg took him to Rosa’s, a legendary blues club on the West Side of town, a club that Coleman had been playing for decades. While laying down his original tune “Old Man Teaser,” Coleman explained it was a story about the lady behind the bar at Rosa’s teasing all the older blues musicians.
An instance like that goes beyond coincidence and demonstrates the ripple effect of Color Red’s collaborative spirit and the minuscule degrees of separation in their musical network. As for the album’s title, it’s an ode to The New Mastersounds’ 2001 debut record, Keb Darge Presents: The New Mastersounds, that was championed by the iconic Scottish DJ and curator launching the band into a 20+ year career and nine more records to boot. Now, the baton is passed to Roberts as a leading voice in the modern funk and soul revival era with notable producer and bandleader accolades and the launch of Color Red that curates top-notch musical talent from all over the globe.
Marcus Rezak has announced a special ‘Phunk Your Face’ performance at The Miracle Theater in Inglewood, CA, after Phish at The Forum on Sunday, October 24th, 2021. Presented by PR Productions and Spin Cycles Presents, Rezak will be joined by Ike Willis (Frank Zappa), Shira Elias (Turkuaz), Pete Griffin (Steve Vai), Adrian Tramontano (Kung Fu/Marble Eyes), and Eric Blumenfeld (Kinetix). Universal Peoples will open the night with music starting at 10:30 p.m.
Rezak has been hard at work touring his new album Truth in Sound (Color Red) that features Russ Lawton, Ray Paczkowski, and the late Tony Markellis of Trey Anastasio Band. He is currently embarking on a national tour performing both original material from the record and Shred is Dead (his high-octane Grateful Dead/Jerry Garcia Band tribute group) repertorie, as well engaging in Phish and Umphrey’s McGee after-parties, select one-off performances, and more.
The Miracle Theater is located .5 miles away from The Forum and is only a 10-minute walk from the arena. Upon entry, patrons (and band/staff) will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test received 72 hours or less prior to showtime. Purchase tickets here: https://bit.ly/phunkmiracletix
On Friday, December 3rd, Seattle-based Americana/folk artist, Alex Dunn, released his second full-length record, Southern Star via Color Red. With the help of co-producer Bryant Moore (bassist in True Loves), Dunn weaves a tapestry of the many lives he’s led, spanning from his youth along the border of Colorado and Wyoming to the solitary moments spent as a commercial fisherman in Southeast Alaska, where he migrated seasonally for nearly 15 years. Now back in Seattle, Dunn has planted roots and assembled an 8-track collection of melodic sawdust and salt air—music that breathes with a sense of place, yet is imminently accessible and speaks to the universal.
“Southern Star,” the album’s title track, is an oceanic folk song that carries the rhythms of the sea while detailing the arduous yet dreamy nature of living aboard a small wooden fishing vessel. Much of Dunn’s life was often ebbing and flowing, dictated by the seasonal nature of the fish themselves—it was only natural for him to compose an Americana homage that reflects this uniquely aquatic existence. Dunn collaborated with his longtime friend and multimedia artist, Elena Stonaker on the release of a music video to recreate imagery of a dream-like reality where one floats through rugged waterscapes filled with wild creatures and the experiences of a particular, untamed solitude.
“The video for ‘Southern Star’ showcases Elena’s signature style of creating soft and beautiful, almost child-like worlds, while at the same time evoking the darkness that often lies beneath the surface,” says Dunn. “I wrote many songs while living and working aboard commercial fishing vessels and the video details the numerous creatures and seascapes that filled this wild existence while focusing on the power of dreams—for they are the connections to a promising future. In this case, a future symbolized by the guiding light of a ‘Southern Star.’”
Since the release of his debut album Scattered Poems in 2018, Dunn has been working and touring with the same core band members - his new record Southern Star showcases this budding musical chemistry. The album finds Dunn's acoustic/folk-rock taking a more electric/roots turn, and what results is a modern piece of Americana that details a life in transition, from a seasonal existence toiling upon the sea to the hard-earned actualization of one's dreams.
The Super 20 is the curation of longtime New York hornsman, Lee Hamilton, bringing together an all-original cast of roadshow vagabonds. Created by a crew that has recorded, produced or performed with artists such as Sierra Leone’s Refugee Allstars, Chicago Jazz Underground, Joan as Police Woman, Jeff Parker, Debo Band, and Slightly Stoopid, The Super 20 invokes the classic 70’s horn sounds of legendary bands such as Don Drummond & The Skatelites, Rico Rodriguez, The Crusaders, and Fela Kuti. Fusing those influences with modern sounds a la Thievery Corporation & Quantic, The Super 20 stands firm with its own voice that demands to be heard now. The group will release their debut single “The Good Life” via Color Red on Friday, January 7th.
“The Good Life” is an optimistic horn-driven track that evokes inspiration from reggae and afrobeat legends past and present. It summons emotions that are hopeful as well as tense and push forward towards the greater unknown reveling in the journey as a whole. Hamilton cites thePaulo Coelho book ‘The Alchemist’ as inspiration as well. The song channels influence by reggae greats like Rico Rodriguez and Tommy McCook as well curational expertise drawn from modern staples in the circuit like Quantic. It is the perfect introduction of a new project that savors every moment along the way from the beginning to the very end.
Hamilton collaborated with renowned producer and engineer, Craig Welsch (10 ft Ganja Plant) at Rear Window Studio on the group’s debut album ‘Winds of Wareika.’ He wanted to record these ideas in a fashion that wasn’t constrained by the boundaries of genre or being aimed at a particular demographic. Craig was a crucial piece of the puzzle to capture these individual ideas into a form that is palatable and makes you want to listen. The two started collaborating in the early days of John Brown’s Body with Hamilton forming the horn section and Welsh serving as the band’s sound engineer. They share a common idea of what “feels good” about creating music as Welsch is a master of his craft when it comes to putting those feeling to tape.
‘Winds of Wareika’ will be released in spring 2022 on Color Red. For more information and to learn more, visit thesupertwenty.com and color-red.com.
Denver-based guitar virtuoso Marcus Rezak has announced tour dates for winter 2022 in continued support of his latest EP ‘Truth in Sound’ which includes a variety of configurations with his original project, his high-octane Grateful Dead tribute project Shred is Dead, and an assortment of artist-at-large engagements and one-off lineups.
The tour kicks off with a three-night Colorado run featuring Russ Lawton of Trey Anastasio Band and Zdenek Gubb of Twiddle. It also includes notable dates including artist-at-large appearances at Gem & Jam Festival and SXSW and multiple performances at Virgin Island Jam Festival in Saint John’s Virgin Islands with vocalist Hayley Jane. The tour wraps up with an appearance Skull & Roses Festival in Ventura, CA.
Full tour schedule:
1/14 - Old Town Pub - Steamboat Springs, CO *
1/15 - Old Town Pub - Steamboat Springs, CO #
1/16 - Your Mom's House - Denver, CO *
1/21 - Kenny's Westside Pub - Peoria, IL -
1/22 - Bourbon on Division - Chicago, IL %
2/4 - Whiteside Theater - Corvallis, OR ^
2/5 - Stage 722 - Portland, OR ^
2/6 - Gem and Jam Festival - Tucson, AZ %
2/11 - Broad Brook Theatre - Broad Brook, CT -
2/12 - TBA
2/16 - Zenbarn - Waterbury, VT *
2/17 - Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center - Greenfield, MA *
2/18 - Aeronaut Cannery - Everett, MA *
2/19 - Nanola - Malta, NY *
2/24 - The Windmill Bar - Saint John, USVI !
2/26 - The Windmill Bar - Saint John, USVI !
3/1 - The Windmill Bar - Saint John, USVI !
3/2 - The Windmill Bar - Saint John, USVI !
3/4 - Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom &
3/5 - TBD
3/6 - TBD
3/17 - 3/19 - SXSW %
3/25 - Sanctuary - Event and Live Music Venue - Maynard, MA *
3/31 - Flat Iron - Greensboro, NC $
4/1 - TBD
4/2 - 5 Points Music Sanctuary - Roanoke, VA @
4/9 - Skull & Roses - Ventura, VA *
- Shred is Dead
*Shred is Dead ft. Russ Lawton & Zdenek Gubb
# Truth in Sound ft. Russ Lawton & Zdenek Gubb
% Artist at Large
^ Rezak plays Zappa & more w/ Ike Willis
$ Truth in Sound Band
& Truth in Sound & Kick the Cat
! Shred is Dead ft. Hayley Jane
@ Rezak's Freek is Shred (Shred is Dead + Freekbass & The Bump Assembly)
Rezak’s 4-track sophomore EP features Russ Lawton, Ray Paczkowski, and the late Tony Markellis of Trey Anastasio Band and Kalyan Pathak on percussion and tabla and can be purchased via Color Red. He recently sat down with the Grateful Dead’s longtime publicist, Dennis McNally for an interview in anticipation of Skull & Roses that you can read here.
Sydney-based roots reggae and dub act, Black Bird Hum, will release "World Keeps Spinning," their second single on Color Red on January 21st, 2022. The track is accompanied by a b-side dub by engineer and longtime friend of the band, Ryan Gambrell, in a digital 45 release. The band also collaborated with collage artist Curtis Bergesen (Collage the World) who created a paper collage used for the release artwork.
The spellbinding rhythmic foundation of "World Keeps Spinning" puts listeners in a trance to recognize the reality that the world keeps spinning no matter how life gets—every day is both a grind and an opportunity to get up and hop on board for the ride. Stylistically, the track is equally influenced by the rousing roots rhythm expression of Steel Pulse and the creative liberties of Fat Freddy’s Drop as demonstrated by bewitching flute parts courtesy of Amy Nelson.
“This track started as a heavy two-chord jam. Heads down, eyes closed kinda thing. The lyrics came later and tell the story of a world that spins and spins no matter how hard it is for us all to keep getting up every day and hopping on board the ride.” remarks bandleader Jon Panic.
While no strangers to the reggae and festival scene in Australia as the band has embarked up and down the continent for the past four years, “World Keeps Spinning” is the second track to be released on Color Red and the roots run deep. Drummer Jeff Reiss was a staple in the Denver, CO music scene for over 15 years before relocating to sunny Sydney and performed with fellow Color Red artists, ATOMGA, during the band’s formative years. Founded by Eddie Roberts of the international funk band, The New Mastersounds, Color Red is a springboard for global collaborations that delve into every nook and cranny of soul, funk, reggae, jazz, afrobeat, and quality music of all kinds. With outposts in Japan and Madrid, Color Red is excited to expand its platform into Australia with Black Bird Hum being the inaugural band in the network.
The band is releasing a music video in tandem with the digital 45 that will debut on Top Shelf Music on Thursday, January 20th. Watch the video here.
On Friday, January 21st, Reed Mathis’ Electric Beethoven will kick off a monthly release series leading up to the group’s highly anticipated double LP Hear No Evil coming out via Color Red this summer. The eclectic bassist’s brainchild rooted in improvisation and reimagining the works of Beethoven’s vast catalog will kick off the series with “Ramps & Vamps,” an appropriate title to launch the group’s endeavors as Mathis refers to it as the ropes course in the playground that is Electric Beethoven.
Based on the scherzo from Beethoven’s 3rd Symphony, there are two rules in the game of ramps & vamps: 1.) When it’s your turn, keep your solo short and succinct and pass the ball to another player 2.) Groove your asses off. The title is derived from the unofficial name Mathis and company have coined their style and how he has distilled Beethoven’s approach to timeless songwriting. Similar to musicals and jazz standards, the “vamp” refers to looping sections to stretch out and improvise. “Ramp” refers to a series of chords Beethoven would utilize to get to one section from another. Beyond bringing Beethoven’s melodies out of the museum case and re-releasing them into the wild, Electric Beethoven aspires to erase the part of the brain that divides music into genres and styles and create a clean slate to return to the emotional realm of Beethoven composing music of the moment. Mathis worked with producer/multi-instrumentalist Otis McDonald out of Hyde Street Studios to mix the track.
Next Friday, February 4th, “Ramps & Vamps” will be followed up by “To Love the World,” to round out the release in a digital 45 format. In the original composition, Beethoven used German poet Friedrich Schiller’s “Ode to Joy” as his muse inspired by its call for hope and brotherhood. While the excerpt takes a mere three minutes in its original form, the quartet divided it into five distinct sections and treated each one like its own statement outfitting them with their own mood, color, and groove. In present times of uncertainty and isolation, Reed Mathis felt Beethoven and Schiller’s sentiments come full circle as “To Love the World” can serve as the perfect incantation for modern-day improvisers to heal themselves from our wounded world.
Electric Beethoven’s double LP Hear No Evil will contain a multitude of unreleased tracks with fellow Color Red collaborators and an entire remix series of electronically produced reconfigurations of the group’s works by esteemed producers on today’s circuit.
Today, Reed Mathis’ Electric Beethoven has released "To Love the World," a brand new single that accompanies last week's release "Ramps & Vamps" in a digital 45. The eclectic bassist's "Classical Dance Music" project is embarking on a monthly release series in collaboration with Color Red leading up to the release of a double LP entitled Hear No Evil that will be available worldwide summer 2022.
Electric Beethoven used a little-known but profound section of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony as the basis for “To Love the World.” In the original composition, Beethoven used German poet Friedrich Schiller’s “Ode to Joy” as his muse inspired by its call for hope and brotherhood. While the excerpt takes a mere three minutes in its original form, the quartet divided it into five distinct sections and treated each one like its own statement outfitting them with their own mood, color, and groove. In present times of uncertainty and isolation, Reed Mathis felt Beethoven and Schiller’s sentiments come full circle as “To Love the World” can serve as the perfect incantation for modern-day improvisers to heal themselves from our wounded world. Mathis worked with producer/multi-instrumentalist Otis McDonald out of Hyde Street Studios to mix the track.
"In these days of uncertainty, factions, and isolation, we felt that Beethoven's vision of hope and global unity (as expressed in this excerpt from the 9th Symphony) could serve as the perfect incantation for improvisers to chant, mantra-like, to heal ourselves and our wounded world," says Mathis of the new release.
Hear No Evil will contain a multitude of unreleased tracks with fellow Color Red collaborators and an entire remix series of electronically produced reconfigurations of the group’s works by esteemed producers on today’s circuit.
On Friday, February 18th, Marcus Rezak will release "Kyoto Cocktail," a collaborative track with Kris Myers of Umphrey's McGee via Color Red produced by Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersounds. The track also features Chris Duffy of The Magic Beans on bass and Tyler Adams of The Jauntee on keyboards.
“Kyoto Cocktail” encompasses the sonic grit and edginess of a live performance in a New York City dive bar. During a car ride to a gig the night before the session at Color Red Studios, the two discussed their mutual love for fusion music coming out of NYC in the 80s and 90s. This particular era possessed a paradoxical combination of rawness and commercial catchiness that Rezak and Myers sought to capture through both production and composition in the studio. Rezak’s virtuosic, yet tastefully expressive guitar work and Myers’ signature style of syncopated and sophisticated drumming are accompanied by Tyler Adams’ (The Jauntee) soaring organ pads and Chris Duffy’s (Magic Beans) subsonic bass. The track is an exploration of rich melodies and rhythmic latitude that encompasses Rezak and Myers’ pedigree through both cutting their teeth at Berklee College of Music and a combined 50 years of touring between the two of them. Like its namesake derived from the suave and worldly mixed drink, “Kyoto Cocktail” is a concoction of a fruitful 15-year collaborative history between two of the most highly regarded and multifaceted musicians on the modern touring circuit.
The track release comes ahead of a co-headlining show between Rezak's original 'Truth in Sound' band ft. Myers on drums & Myers' original fusion project Kick the Cat at Cervantes' Other Side in Denver, CO on Friday, March 4th, 2022. Tickets can be purchased here.
Rezak is currently embarking on a fully loaded winter tour with his high-octane Grateful Dead tribute group, Shred is Dead and his original 'Truth in Sound' band to promote his latest release 'Truth in Sound' ft. Russ Lawton, Ray Paczkowski, and the late Tony Markellis of Trey Anastasio Band. He recently appeared as an artist-at-large at Gem & Jam Festival in Tucson, AZ sitting in with TAUK, Melvin Seals & JCB, and more and will appear at SXSW, Virgin Island Jam Fest (Saint John, VI), and Skull & Roses Festival (Ventura, CA) to wrap the tour up.
On Friday, March 4th, Reed Mathis’ Electric Beethoven will release "The Path," the third digital single off of a monthly series leading up to the release of his double LP Hear No Evil coming out August 4, 2022.
Mathis vividly recalls being haunted by a scene in the film ‘Immortal Beloved’ where Gary Oldman portrays Beethoven sitting at a piano playing a quiet, loss of innocence melody as he comes to terms with experiencing hearing loss. The melody played is the second movement of Piano Sonata No.8 best known as “Pathétique,” one of Mathis’ personal favorite melodies in Beethoven’s vast repertoire. “The Path” by Electric Beethoven uses “Pathétique” as their muse as Mathis envisions a present-times scenario of the 1994 scene reimagined. The modern instrumentation and driving beat set the stage for feelings of hope and redemption that are pristinely mixed by Rob Eaton, guitarist of Dark Star Orchestra who has also produced several albums for the iconic jazz guitarist, Pat Metheny.
"I remember picking the melody out by ear on the piano before ever looking at the actual score," Mathis recalls upon first hearing "Pathétique," "It's one of my favorite melodies in all of Beethoven's repertoire. Our version takes it out to a country church, the organ reverberating out across the lake, frogs chirping, sun settling."
You can watch Mathis breakdown recording the "soprano" part on bass and get insight into his arranging process by viewing the video here.
The release of "The Path" comes ahead of a recently-announced string of northern California Electronic Beethoven duo dates where Mathis will perform alongside his former Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey bandmate, Brian Hass. The duo shows are as follows:
March 10: Crazy Horse - Nevada City, CA
March 11: Moe's Alley - Santa Cruz, CA
March 12: Boom Boom Room - San Francisco, CA
Hear No Evil will contain a multitude of unreleased tracks with fellow Color Red collaborators and an entire remix series of electronically produced reconfigurations of the group’s works by esteemed producers on today’s circuit.
Denver-based guitar virtuoso Marcus Rezak has announced tour dates for summer 2022 in continued support of his latest EP ‘Truth in Sound’ which includes a variety of configurations with his original project, his high-octane Grateful Dead tribute project Shred is Dead, and an assortment of artist-at-large engagements and one-off lineups.
The tour begins tomorrow, May 6th with a special Zappa Night performance at Broad Brook Opera House in Broad Brook, CT ft. Ike Willis of Zappa fame and Chris DeAngelis & Adrian Tramontano of Kung Fu before a pair of shows in the Pacific Northwest and another string of engagements in Saint John Virgin Islands. Rezak has a handful of festival appearances including Summer Camp Music Festival, Jerry Jay, Grateful Campout, Oxbow Music Festival, and more. He will also debut a one-off project 'Led is Dead' at Lightning Bug Music Festival performing music of Led Zeppelin and Grateful Dead.
Full tour schedule:
May 6th: Broad Brook Opera House - Broad Brook, CT !
May 7th: New Orleans, LA @
May 12th: The Get Down, Portland, OR *
May 13th: Wow Music Hall - Eugene, OR *
May 15th: SLO Brew - San Luis Obispo, CA *
May 18th: - Windmill Bar - Saint John, USVI %
May 18th: Beach Bar - Saint John, USVI *
May 19th: Beach Bar - Saint John, USVI *
May 20th: Beach Bar - Saint John, USVI *
May 21st: Saint John Brewers - Saint John, USVI $
May 22nd: Windmill Bar - Saint John, USVI %
May 26th: Summer Camp Music Festival - Chillicothe, IL *
May 27th: Sterling Stage Festival - Sterling, NY *
June 3rd: Music Room - Yarmouth, MA x
June 4th: Red Square BVT Jazz Festival - Burlington, VT x
June 19th: HVAC Pub - Chicago, IL *
June 24th: Grateful Dead After Party *
June 25th:Grateful Dead After Party *
July 2nd: Over Under Festival - Saugerties, NY *
July 8th: Southgate House Revival - Newport, KY *
July 9th: Psychedelic Playground Festival - Harmony, ME *
July 16th: Jerry Jam - Bath, NH *
July 23rd: Oxbow Music Festival - Morrisville, VT
July 30th: TBA - Newmarket, NH
July 31st: Half Step Outside - Austin, TX
August 4th: TBA
August 5th: Winstons - San Diego, CA
August 6th: TBA
August 11th: Grateful Campout - Thompson’s Point, ME *
August 12th: Otus Supply - Ferndale, MI
August 13th: TBA
September 4th: Karnival of the Arts Festival !
September 9th: Lightning Bug Music Festival - Valparaiso, IN ^
*Shred is Dead
! Marcus Rezak, Ike Willis Zappa Experience w/ members of Kung Fu
^ Led is Dead (Zeppelin meets Dead)
X - Loud Jazz - A Tribute to John Scofield
@ Jeff Kravitz Birthday Party
$ Truth in Sound Band
% Solo Set
Rezak’s 4-track sophomore EP features Russ Lawton, Ray Paczkowski, and the late Tony Markellis of Trey Anastasio Band and Kalyan Pathak on percussion and tabla and can be purchased via Color Red. He is currently in the studio recording with multiple projects that include a new body of solo work and a handful of collaborations.
Vail-based nonprofit organization, Mr. Anonymous Philanthropic Society (“MAPS”) has announced the launch of their record label. The Go MAPS Music label is proudly kicking off a steady stream of releases with the digital single “Name Song” by Kory Montgomery. The lead single off a new series of Montgomery’s work will be released on Friday, May 20, accompanied by a performance on Fox 21’s Loving Local broadcasting live from Colorado Springs, Colorado at 9:00 am MST.
MAPS was launched in 2021 and led by Scott Rednor, MAPS creative director and owner of Vail-based music venue Shakedown Bar. The group transformed the venue’s space into a state-of-the-art recording studio to host unique one-of-a-kind collaborations by their robust roster of musicians including Brothers Keeper, Nicki Bluhm, Ross James, Rob Eaton Jr., Tyler Grant, Keith Moseley, and more. MAPS has collaborated with Color Red, the Denver-headquartered music platform and record label founded by Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersounds, to power their label and distribute music releases worldwide. Both MAPS and Color Red are rooted in releasing high-quality original music by artists from around the globe and curating one-of-a-kind collaborations through a platform that ensures the artists are recognized for their work.
“Name Song” by Kory Montgomery is the ideal track to launch the label as it offers an introspective look into the thought process behind writing music. The light, soulful melody takes listeners through their own ideas while tickling the brain with its blissful vocal harmony and warm guitar tones. It serves as the perfect precursor to explore the collaborations the Go MAPS label has helped foster and situates itself nicely with the label’s collaborative ethos.
“‘Name Song’ gives a ‘forest from the trees’ look at the process of writing a song,” says Montgomery. “It pushes the thought of how and why any given song could be written on any given day about any given person.”
Founded in 2021, Mr. Anonymous Philanthropic Society (MAPS) empowers artists to promote unity and peace in communities through music. MAPS raises the level of arts and entertainment by streamlining the process of content creation with live music events and recording sessions. Additionally, MAPS provides a platform of support for artists with industry know-how and access to professional resources to assure their longevity in the music business. MAPS also fosters opportunities for young artists through the MAPS Institute of Modern Music and will host the Vail Youth Music Showcase August 12-14, 2022 where the next generation of aspiring musicians will be mentored by industry professionals through workshops, performances and recording sessions throughout the weekend.
The New Mastersounds and Color Red are excited to announce the official launch of their first NFT project on Monday, June 13. Powered by Lively and Blockparty, those who hold this NFT will receive exclusive early access to "Watchu Want," a single from The New Mastersounds’ upcoming new studio album, The Deplar Effect.
The New Mastersounds' Watchu Want NFT holders will also have access to a special premiere of The New Mastersounds live performance in Menorca on June 23, and a live Q&A via livestream. These shows in Menorca will be the only live performances the band will be playing this year.
This NFT release will be completely free for fans to claim, and will be available at watchuwant.xyz from 12 PM Eastern on June 13 thru 8 PM Eastern on June 23.
“Watchu Want” was the first tune written for The New Mastersounds’ 17th album ‘The Deplar Effect’ and happens to be the first track on the album. On every studio album to date, the band has a tradition of opening with an instrumental “Meters-inspired” track. The Meters were the main influence of the sound of the band back at its start in '99, and with each album sees a homage to the great NoLa band. The title of the track asks the listener "after 2 years of lockdown, what are you wanting for? Because we've got a lot to give!" Past tracks of the group’s in a similar Meters-inspired instrumental vain such as “Freckles” and “MRG” have accumulated over 5 million streams across DSP platforms.
The Deplar Effect was recorded at Floki Studios located down the valley to Eleven Experience’s Deplar Farm on Troll Peninsula, Iceland. Color Red, a music platform and record label founded by Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersounds, has partnered with Eleven Music to host and produce sessions featuring some of the most notable musicians in today’s music scene.
When asked why the band is now getting into the web3 world and why they chose to work with Lively/Blockparty, Guitarist and band leader Eddie Roberts had this to say:
“We’ve been wanting to engage with the web3 world for a while now but were waiting for the right time. With the new album coming out this fall we thought this would be the perfect way to give our fans that haven’t yet engaged in this technology an easy on ramp and for those that have, give them The New Mastersounds web3 content they have been clamoring for. We thought it was important to partner with a team that not only understands the technology of web3 and nfts but has strong roots in the music industry and the communities our fans spend time in. The team at Lively has decades of experience in helping foster and grow those communities and with Blockparty bringing their industry know how and suite of web3 tools to the table we can sleep easy knowing both the band and our fans are in good hands as we take this plunge together.”
The Watchu Want NFT Offering will be released on the Polygon Blockchain, known for its climate-friendly commitments and sustainable processes.
With The Deplar Effect’s release scheduled for this fall, fans should stay tuned for more exciting announcements regarding future NFT releases, benefits, and projects for the New Mastersounds.
On Friday, July 1st, international funk group The New Mastersounds released “Gonna Get in My Way,” the lead single off of the group’s forthcoming 17th album The Deplar Effect recorded at Floki Studios. Located down the valley of Eleven Experiences' Deplar Farm in Troll Peninsula, Iceland, Floki Studios has become a destination studio hosting and producing sessions from some of the most notable acts in today’s music scene. Guitarist and bandleader Eddie Roberts’ label Color Red has partnered with Eleven Music to release the album as their inaugural release and the session was the first one to take place at the brand new studio.
The band’s prior release Shake It, released in 2019, featured Lamar Williams Jr. on vocals (son of The Allman Brothers’ 1972-1976 bassist Lamar Williams) and The Deplar Effect follows suit featuring Williams on a number of songs including “Gonna Get In My Way.” Appropriately, the new single musically started as a homage to The Allman Brothers with a southern funk guitar riff played on both electric guitar and acoustic slide guitar. The group enlisted vocalist Shelby Kemp of the Mississippi-based band Royal Horses to pen the lyrics. Kemp details that the track is written from the perspective of a working musician and notes that it’s an “inside looking out description of the struggles of finding and being one’s true self.” The southern roots of the song struck a Williams who made it his own memorable anthem and laid it down in one take.
Last Thursday, The New Mastersounds released their debut NFT project partnering with Lively and Blockparty that allowed fans to claim a free NFT to gain access to a live stream of one of the band’s only performances of the year in Menorca, Spain with a live Q&A plus an exclusive download of an additional single “Watchu Want” off of The Depalr Effect. Over 600 fans of the band claimed the NFT and joined the group on the live stream event. The band will continue to augment the NFT throughout the album promo campaign with additional offerings and opportunities for fans to redeem the free NFT.
The Deplar Effect is now available for vinyl pre-order on Color Red’s website. For additional information and to order, click here.
International funk group The New Mastersounds have released “Let Me In From the Cold,” the second single off of the group’s forthcoming 17th album The Deplar Effect recorded at Floki Studios. Located down the valley of Eleven Experiences’ Deplar Farm in Troll Peninsula, Iceland, Floki Studios has become a destination studio hosting and producing sessions from some of the most notable acts in today’s music scene. Guitarist and bandleader Eddie Roberts’ label Color Red has partnered with Eleven Music to release the album as their inaugural release and the session was the first one to take place at the brand new studio.
The band’s prior release Shake It, released in 2019, featured Lamar Williams Jr. (son of The Allman Brothers’ 1972-1976 bassist Lamar Williams) on vocals and The Deplar Effect follows suit featuring Williams on a number of songs including “Let Me In From the Cold.” Inspired by the harsh Icelandic climate, “Let Me In From The Cold” is a humorous song about a frosty relationship between a 'hard to get' woman and a man pleading for her affection. Between Williams’ vocals and the band’s tight instrumental work and crisp turnarounds, the track is a highly danceable, uptempo nod to 60s soul reminiscent of Ray Charles and Mose Allison.
The band’s retreat to Floki Studios marked their first time seeing each other in person after the COVID-19 pandemic. Surrounded by beautiful weather, snowcapped mountains, water, and the coziness of the brand new studio in Northern Iceland, the group was able to hone in on new works with no distractions. The “effect” of soaking in the experience and citing many moments of getting goosebumps and feeding off of the energy in the room after an extended absence inspired the album’s title The Deplar Effect.
Last month, The New Mastersounds released their debut NFT project partnering with Lively and Blockparty that allowed fans to claim a free NFT to gain access to a live stream of one of the band’s only performances of the year in Menorca, Spain with a live Q&A plus an exclusive download of an additional single “Watchu Want” off of The Depalr Effect. The band will continue to augment the NFT throughout the album promo campaign with additional offerings and opportunities for fans to redeem the free NFT.
The Deplar Effect is now available for vinyl pre-order on Color Red’s website. For additional information and to order, click here.
"New Path" is Reed Mathis’ rearrangement of the 2nd movement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata #8. When saxophonist Karl Denson (Rolling Stones, Greyboy Allstars, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe) and Mathis began talking about how we would approach this classic piece of music, they hit immediately on our shared love of Charlie Parker. They decided Parker’s "Charlie Parker with Strings" album would be our model—eschewing the written melody altogether, and instead, weaving a freeform improvised melody from the emotion contained in the raw chord changes themselves. Denson and his tenor saxophone were all over it.
For the recording they made for Color Red, Mathis played the bones of the piece on electric guitar and keyboardist Todd Stoops played the bass lines on a synth. The incredible and expressive drumming is from String Cheese Incident's Jason Hann, a longtime Electric Beethoven collaborator and friend. The addition of Denson is fledged from a 20-year relationship of being a friend and mentor to Mathis. From the first moment he sat in with Mathis’ first band, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, they have bonded over a blend of funky momentum, fiery improv, and a sense of control within recklessness on stage.
"New Path" is the longest studio track Reed Mathis and Electric Beethoven have ever put out, but considering the towering lineup they assembled to record it, they feel that it is a compelling and emotional journey from start to finish, with some surprising twists and turns, and a whole lot of soul.
Hear No Evil, the group's forthcoming double LP, will contain a multitude of unreleased tracks with fellow Color Red collaborators and an entire remix series of electronically produced reconfigurations of the group’s works by esteemed producers on today’s circuit.
International funk group The New Mastersounds have released “Watchu Want,” the third single off of the group’s forthcoming 17th album The Deplar Effect recorded at Floki Studios. Located down the valley of Eleven Experiences’ Deplar Farm in Troll Peninsula, Iceland, Floki Studios has become a destination studio hosting and producing sessions from some of the most notable acts in today’s music scene. Guitarist and bandleader Eddie Roberts’ label Color Red has partnered with Eleven Music to release the album as their inaugural release and the session was the first one to take place at the brand new studio.
“Watchu Want” was the first tune written for ‘The Deplar Effect.’ Following suit with every studio album to date, the band has a tradition of opening with a “Meters-inspired” track. The Meters were the main influence of the sound of the band back at its start in '99, and with each album sees a homage to the legendary New Orleans band. The title of the track asks the listener "after 2 years of lockdown, what are you wanting for? Because we've got a lot to give!" Past tracks of the group’s in a similar Meters-inspired instrumental vain include fan favorites such as “Freckles” and “MRG” that have each ammassed over 5 million streams across DSP platforms.
Ahead of its worldwide DSP release, this track was made available exclusively to NFT holders in partnership with Lively, a platform made for creators and fans to connect in real-time through lessons, meet & greets, and concerts founded by Marc Brownstein of The Disco Biscuits. To launch the NFT, The New Mastersounds presented a live stream performance from Menorca, Spain, one of the group’s only three concerts of 2022. Additional announcements around the NFT are forthcoming.
The band’s retreat to Floki Studios marked their first time seeing each other in person after the COVID-19 pandemic. Surrounded by beautiful weather, snowcapped mountains, water, and the coziness of the brand new studio in Northern Iceland, the group was able to hone in on new works with no distractions. The “effect” of soaking in the experience and citing many moments of getting goosebumps and feeding off of the energy in the room after an extended absence inspired the album’s title The Deplar Effect.
The Deplar Effect is now available for vinyl pre-order on Color Red’s website. For additional information and to order, click here.
For over two decades, The New Mastersounds have maintained more than just a reputation of longevity. Instead, they’ve cultivated a rare balance of consistency, yet commitment to constantly evolving their sound. Forged out of the golden age of the modern funk and soul revival in 1999, the band has amassed a catalog of sixteen albums, embarked on countless world tours, and drawn in a broad audience through both their original material and collaborations with esteemed vocalists and remixers. Slated for release on September 16, 2022, the group’s seventeenth album The Deplar Effect captures the band on a high after a two-year hiatus of in-person engagements due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The band retreated to the brand new Floki Studios located down the valley of Eleven Experiences’ Deplar Farm in Troll Peninsula, Iceland to hunker down and immerse themselves in truly being in the zone.
Being surrounded by beautiful weather, snowcapped mountains, water, and the coziness of the brand new northern Icelandic studio had an “effect” on the band, as cited by guitarist and bandleader Eddie Roberts and further reflected within the wordplay of the album’s title. Fueled by their camaraderie and the energy in the room after their extended absence, there were several goosebump-inducing moments during the session. The album’s debut single “Gonna Get in My Way” was penned for the band by songwriter and vocalist Shelby Kemp of the Mississippi-based roots-rock group Royal Horses written from the perspective of a working musician. He elaborates that it’s an “inside looking out description of the struggles of finding and being one’s true self.” The track was then handed to vocalist Lamar Williams Jr. (son of the late Allman Brothers bassist, Lamar Williams) who joined the band in 2019 for their Billboard-charting album Shake It. While reflecting on the session, Williams notes, “We hit a groove where everyone got goosebumps and could feel it in their bones. The song goes into a spiritual realm with a line saying ‘I’ll try to fly if you do the same’ and it was reflective of what we were doing in the mountains with birds flying around and openness. It encapsulated the vibe of what was going on.”
Inspired by the harsh Icelandic climate, “Let Me In From The Cold” is a humorous song about a frosty relationship between a 'hard to get' woman and a man pleading for her affection also playing up to the Icelandic themes. Between Williams’ vocals and the band’s tight instrumental work and crisp turnarounds, the track is a highly danceable, uptempo nod to 60s soul reminiscent of Ray Charles and Mose Allison. “High on The Mountain” is inspired by classic Motown soul with some Curtis Mayfield-style bongos livening up the chorus. Roberts cites, “I wanted a contrast between the verses and choruses, reflecting the contract of the mountainous backdrop surrounding the studio." Keyboardist Joe Tatton adds, “The song has a hopeful, feel-good message about how things will come together. It was one of the first tracks written at Floki Studios.”
Longtime fans of The New Mastersounds’ instrumental quartet works will not be disappointed as the band honors their boogaloo and soul-jazz roots in “Watchu Want.” On every studio album to date, the band carries on a tradition of paying homage to The Meters with the first track of every album being bright and upbeat in the same spirit of the legendary New Orleans quartet. “Hot Tub” is a relaxed, mid-tempo groove allowing the pace to simmer and slow down, and relax.
From first to last note, the band revels in the experience of coming back together with the blank canvas of a new studio and living in the moment encompassed by the northern lights and eradicated from distractions. The Deplar Effect finds the band continuing to climb up the mountain top of never resting on laurels and their revolving doors of collaboration. It’s the culmination of their free-flowing musical vernacular, and adventurous spirit while at the same time, never completely reinventing the wheel. “At the point of release, you have to trust the process that the universe will accept it as you have delivered it—not try to be anything else but you,” says Williams. “We’re trying to come off with love and that’s the goal of each song.”
On Friday, November 11th, Memphis-based GRAMMY nominee Southern Avenue will release their rendition of the 1983 Genesis classic, “That’s All.” The now 6-piece blues-soul act lays out their funky, groovy imprint of the track that will be come out via Color Red, record label and music platform founded by Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersounds. The group will be celebrating the release with a performance at Salvage Station in Asheville, North Carolina on the day of its release on 11/11.
While on tour in the UK, Israeli-born guitarist, Ori Nalfaty played his bandmates some of his favorite music from UK-based artists that he grew up on. He went deep playing the first three Genesis albums back-to-back and the band went further down the rabbit hole by watching a documentary on the group. Vocalist Tierinii Jackson had always been a fan of Phil Collins and when it came time for the band to vet songs to cover, Nalfaty suggested an 80s-era Genesis hit. Southern Avenue takes the already groovy pop-rock song and gives it a soulful spin with controlled command in the studio that translates into an electrifying banger at live shows driven by luscious vocal harmonies and vintage organ and guitar tones.
Honoring the southern soul legacy with a 21st-century sensibility, the band shows no signs of slowing down after their 2020 GRAMMY nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album. The group maintains an active tour schedule around the globe, earning slots at coveted festivals including Bonaroo and Austin City Limits, and supporting prominent acts such as Sheryl Crow, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Jason Mraz, Los Lobos, JJ Grey & Mofro, and more.
The band will close out 2022 with a four-show run in The Netherlands in early December which culminates with a headlining performance at the Basel Blues Festival in Switzerland on December 20th. Southern Avenue will return to the US with a pair of New Years weekend shows in Colorado at Schmiggity’s (Steamboat Springs) on December 29th and Center for the Arts Crested Butte on December 31st (a themed event, dubbed “A Funkified Formal Affair”). Southern Avenue has already announced several major international events in 2023 including the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise and the Bluesfest Byron Bay (Australia).
On Friday, November 25th, virtuosic guitarist Marcus Rezak will perform a special Friendsgiving show with an all-star lineup at the legendary Troubadour in West Hollywood, California. Presented by PR Productions, the three-set performance will feature Felix Pastorius (Hipster Assassins), Dave Watts (The Motet), Wally Ingram (Bob Weir/Phil Lesh), Adam MacDougall (Circles Around the Sun), Ben “Smiley” Silverstein (The Main Squeeze) with special appearances by Robby Krieger (The Doors), Ike Willis (Frank Zappa), Arthur Barrow (Frank Zappa), Scott Page (Pink Floyd), Ian Roller (GENR8R), Andrea Whitt (Shania Twain), Shira Elias (formerly of Turkuaz), members of Cubensis, The Higgs, and more.
A portion of proceeds from the event will benefit Sweet Relief Music Fund providing financial assistance to all types of career musicians and music industry workers who are struggling to make ends meet while facing physical or mental health issues, disability, or age-related problems. Tickets can be purchased here.
The three-set night will include a robust and eclectic repertoire including Rezak’s original music and notable covers of the legacy acts the featured artists have performed with. Rezak reveals, “We have a very exciting show in store for everyone who loves music. I’m most excited to perform the music of Zappa, The Doors, and Pink Floyd with original members of their bands at such a legendary and iconic venue in LA. Sharing the stage with Felix Pastorius performing the music of Weather Report and his father, the great Jaco Pastorius, is going to be an absolutely incredible honor. I’ll be debuting some of my new original music and you never know who else might show up. This is sure to be a volcanic eruption of musical talent across the board with members of celebrated musicians from around the world.”
Of the new material being debuted will be Rezak’s upcoming single “Not Forget the Love,” coming out that same day via Color Red. Recorded at Violet Recording in Boulder, CO during a winter 2022 mountain run, the song features Russ Lawton (Trey Anastasio Band) on drums, Zdenek Gubb (Twiddle) on bass, Bill McKay on keyboards, and Melanie Sponselee on background vocals. The tune was inspired by being on the road as a full-time touring musician and everything that comes with the journey. It expresses the importance of keeping truth, music, beauty, and grace in all we bring to the table of life. “Through our journey in life, we may lose sight of our progress as well, which is important to feel success in hard work,” says Rezak, “By keeping love as a focal point, we reach a greater realization of what is possible in humans' everyday lives.”
Rezak’s Friendsgiving show comes at the height of his Road Warrior 2022 Tour capping off a year of over 200 performances across the country. In addition to Rezak’s original music, he has maintained an active schedule with his high-octane Grateful Dead tribute project Shred is Dead, debuted Led is Dead (Zeppelin Meets Dead) at key festival plays such as Lightning Bug Music Festival, and most recently launched Gumbo, recreating memorable Phish shows from the 90s in their entirety on an authentic 90 rig. 2023 shows no signs of slowing down for Rezak as he already has two albums in the works including a blues album produced by GRAMMY-winner Paul Nelson and another body of original work recorded at Tank Recording Studio with Ben Collette.
For a full list of dates and to learn more, visit marcusrezak.com.
On Friday, December 16th, Electric Beethoven will release their long-awaited double LP Hear No Evil via Color Red. Stemming from the mind of eclectic bassist and multi-instrumentalist, Reed Mathis, the improvising funk-rock project infuses elements of jazz and EDM based 100% on the compositions of Ludwig Van Beethoven. The musicians improvise with the intention to heal themselves and the listener through authentic grooves and excited discovery.
Hear No Evil finds the band recording six Beethoven games, live in a room together, directly to tape, at Color Red Studios in Denver, Colorado. While the band’s previous albums consisted of deeper cuts in Beethoven’s vast volume of repertoire, Hear No Evil focuses on six of Beethoven’s most famous and well-known tunes. “Elise” gives Beethoven’s piano method book standard “Für Elise” a funky facelift and dance floor makeover. “The Path” uses Piano Sonata No.8 best known as “Pathétique,” as its muse as Mathis envisions a present-times scene of the 1994 film Immortal Beloved where Beethoven, portrayed by Gary Oldman, comes to terms with his hearing loss. “Moonlight Sonata” puts Mathis and company’s dark and dreamy imprint on the classic Beethoven sonata. As a skillful musicologist and researcher, he notes that the chord progression is a direct inspiration behind classics ranging from The Beatles’ “Because” to Radiohead’s “Exit Music For a Film” and countless other haunting melodies in modern times.
During the pandemic lockdown, the group invited six friends to pick a track and put a new spin on it resulting in four remixes and two re-arrangements. “New Path” features a towering lineup including acclaimed saxophonist Karl Denson (Rolling Stones, Greyboy All-Stars, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe), drummer Jason Hann (The String Cheese Incident), and keyboardist Todd Stoops (RAQ). When Mathis began talking with Denson about how they would approach this classic piece of music [“Pathétique”], they immediately reveled in their shared love of Charlie Parker. They decided Parker’s "Charlie Parker with Strings" album would be their model—eschewing the written melody altogether, and instead, weaving a freeform improvised melody from the emotion contained in the raw chord changes themselves. Mathis recruited Dan Africano (Thievery Corporation) and Scott Flynn (Odesza)’s instrumental reggae/dub project, Death by Dub to create a dub-reggae rendition of Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata” with skanking guitar strokes courtesy of Ryan Jalbert (The Motet) and breezy horn lines with Drew Sayers (The Motet) on saxophone filling out the horn section with Flynn. Mathis approached revered electro-soul veteran Michal Menert to work on a remix of “The Seventh” because of his unique approach to sound design and his attention to a remix’s global soundscape. Through four distinct and measured approaches, Menert aligns with the group’s original intent as his remix moves between each repetition of form, morphing in detail and subtle change while steadily building intensity.
To celebrate the release, the Mathis will be reuniting with the group’s original drummer, Jay Lane (Dead & Company, Wolf Brothers) and former Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey bandmate Brian Haas for a performance at The Chapel in San Francisco, CA on January 21, 2023, with visuals by Mad Alchemy Liquid Light Show. Tickets can be purchased here.
11x GRAMMY award-winning arranger/trumpeter Philip Lassiter makes his Color Red debut with “Simmer Down,” featuring a vivacious 24-piece ensemble. Recorded live with 8 horns and a 6-piece vocal ensemble, Lassiter’s acclaimed arranging prowess is showcased with all players in the room recording simultaneously. The track exudes playful interplay between the horns and vocals over a groove that cross-pollinates funk and Latin influences with ear-twisting jazz harmonies and piercing guitar leads.
Written in tandem with longtime collaborator Brett Nolan, “Simmer Down” is a self-empowerment anthem for staying true to yourself and resisting the urge to be confined into a proverbial box whether it is creating music or walking your own path in life. “Simmer Down” is a direct reflection of Lassiter’s professional path that includes arranging and leading an 11-piece horn section for Prince that performed at the Montreal Jazz Festival, Essence Festival, North Sea Jazz Curacao, United Center Chicago, Arsenio Hall Show, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and more. The release comes off the heels of his prior live album "Live In Love" which featured David Paiche (Toto), MonoNeon, Durand Bernarr, members of Snarky Puppy, Ghost-Note, & 22x Latin GRAMMY. winner Juan Luis Guerra.
Vail, Colorado-based rock band Brothers Keeper enlists John Popper of Blues Traveler to guest on harmonica in “He Left You.” The track is inspired by straight-up 70s rock n roll in a similar vein as The Faces in its gritty yet precise, attitude-driven proclamation. Lyrically, the song speaks about an indictment on relationships by someone who is proverbially throwing rocks at a glass house.
Vocalist and guitarist Scott Rednor met Popper at the HORDE festivals in the mid-90s and the two embarked on quite a bit of touring together and still unite to perform whenever they can. In addition to Brothers Keeper, Rednor also serves as the creative director for the non-profit organization MAPS (Mr. Anonymous Philanthropic Society) and owns Shakedown Bar in Vail. MAPS, a 501.c.3 organization, empowers artists to promote unity in communities with live and recorded sessions, professional resources and industry know-how. In 2022, MAPS launched its record label arm Go MAPS Music which is releasing “He Left You” in celebration of the organization’s second annual ‘MAPS in Motion’ fundraiser taking place at Shakedown Bar. Coming full circle, the event will feature a live performance by Brothers Keeper ft. John Popper with additional guest appearances Eddie Roberts (The New Mastersounds/Founder of Color Red), 3x GRAMMY-nominee Roosevelt Collier, and more.
Brothers Keeper is actively working on a full-length album to be released by Go MAPS Music and distributed by Color Red this year.
ABOUT BROTHERS KEEPER:
Brothers Keeper is a trio that honestly displays heart and soul and rock and roll.
The core band consists of Scott Rednor on guitar, Michael Jude on bass, and John Michel on drums. All three, hailing from an attitude-ridden east coast background, have transplanted to the Vail and Roaring Fork Valleys in Colorado for both the mountains and the music.
For the past 15 years, Michael and John have steadily played with the John Oates Band (Hall and Oates) and many other world renown musicians, while Scott has been involved in recording and touring projects on a national level for more than 20 years. Scott now owns Shakedown Bar in Vail where he serves as Music Director bringing in national talent for locals and tourists from around the world. It is there that the trio has made their home amongst an amazing cast of rotating musicians as well as several “Brothers Keeper Featuring Series” shows. The first of the series featured John Popper of Blues Traveler, and Jono Manson.
Rednor had met Popper on the HORDE festivals in the mid 90’s and they had done quite a bit of touring together. Jono Manson is from New York City and helped pioneer the Nightingales/Wetlands uprising that had spawned Phish, Blues Traveler, Spin Doctors, and many more successful bands. Rednor had opened up for High Plains Drifter, which was a super group of sorts, fronted by Manson, featuring members of a few of these bands. It was the recollection of that raucous rock and roll that inspired this initial collaboration with Brothers Keeper.
After that first show in which Popper and Manson joined Brothers Keeper, Popper brought into play the idea of doing a project together, which led the band to write and record the album that will be released on 8150 Records late this summer, entitled “Todd Meadows”. This debut from the band is an Americana/Rock n Roll album, featuring 5 lead singers, bringing together their wealth of experience, and a wide range of musical styles. The LP was written by the band in Santa Fe in April of 2013, and recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee in June of 2013. Other guests on the album include Jason Crosby (Phil Lesh and Friends), Glenn McClelland (Ween), DJ Logic, Joel Guzman, and Rob Eaton Jr. This is a Rock n roll outfit like you haven’t seen in a long, long time!
ABOUT MAPS:
Mr. Anonymous Philanthropic Society (MAPS) empowers artists to promote peace and unity in communities through music. Founded in 2021, MAPS is inspired by connection, collaboration and integrity in the music it produces and the relationships it builds. MAPS, a nonprofit 501.c.3. organization based in Vail, Colorado, joined with Shakedown Presents and its robust catalogue of artists to produce live community performances, recording sessions, mobile music, mentoring through the MAPS Institute of Modern Music and professional resources for artists. For more information, visit www.gomapsmusic.org.
On Wednesday, March 15th, Seattle-based original instrumental funk and soul powerhouse, True Loves, will embark on a west coast headlining tour in support of the re-mastered vinyl repress of their debut instrumental album, Famous Last Words, on Color Red.
The band is an 8 piece all-star cast, featuring players Jimmy James (formerly of Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio), Skerik, and several other of Seattle's finest and in-demand players who have performed with Macklemore, Odesza, Monophonics, and The Dip. True Loves have performed all over North America, sharing the stage with such notable acts as Maceo Parker, Charles Bradley, Cory Henry, Lettuce, and The Budos Band, just to name a few. The group’s live performances have garnered them much acclaim and millions of streams on YouTube.
A full list of dates & tickets can be found below:
3/15 Bend, OR - Volcanic Theatre
3/16 Mill Valley, CA - Sweetwater Music Hall
3/17 TBA
3/18 Santa Cruz, CA - Moe's Alley
3/19 San Diego, CA - Soda Bar
3/21 Los Angeles, CA - Resident
3/22 San Francisco, CA - Amado's
3/23 Talent, OR - Talent Club
3/24 Portland, OR - The Get Down
3/25 Seattle, WA - Nectar Lounge
Knew Conscious, Denver's premier social club around the arts has partnered with couchtour.tv for an exclusive re-broadcast of this past Saturday's performance of Ross James & Andy Thorn's Electric Dead Grass ft. Garrett Sayers (The Motet) and Mark Levy (Circles Around the Sun) airing on Wednesday, February 8th at 7pm MT. During the performance, the quartet was joined by Billy Strings after his sold-out show at 1st Bank Center who joins the band on three songs.
The performance features additional guest sit-ins by Billy Failing on banjo and Alex Hargreaves on fiddle who also came over after performing with Billy Strings at 1st Bank Center. Throughout the night, the group traverses through the Grateful Dead catalog as well as selections including Jimmy Cliff's "Sittin in Limbo," the second tune in which Billy Strings shared the stage with the ensemble. You can read Grateful Web's review here.
Founded by visual artist Kurt Redeker in 2011, Knew Conscious is rooted in a "for artists, by artists" ethos. Redker's kaleidoscopic digital artwork adorns the venue and artists and industry members alike flock to the venue for specially curated late-night performances featuring world-class talent. Within the last year, Kamasi Washington, Eric Krasno, Bill Nershi, Mark Farina, and many more have taken the stage after prior performances in the Denver-metro area.
The stream will be broadcasted for free (with donations accepted) and viewers will have the opportunity to win tickets to upcoming Knew Conscious performances throughout the night. Viewers can tune in HERE.
"Stargazer" is the newest single release from Pacific Northwest supergroup FUTURENOT. Riding on the heels of their critically acclaimed debut album “Greatest Hits” (2021 Color Red Music), co-writers Jason Cressey and Peter Daniel bring to life another deep grooving gem from their collective creative depths. Featuring the musicianship of long-time collaborator, producer, and pianist Tim Kennedy (BIGTOOTH, Richie Aldente) along with new collaborators Los Angeles-based guitarist Aquiles Magana (Mestizo Beat, Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, Monophonics) and Seattle-based drummer Dan Weiss (The Sextones, formerly DLO3). Mixed by Kelly Finnigan (Monophonics) at Transistor Sound Studio and mastered by Doug Krebs, "Stargazer" takes the listener on a journey through time and space represented through the sounds and vibrations of stratospheric horns, warm and fuzzy guitar, glimmering keyboard soundscapes, and deep pocket beats. The resulting sound is what you have come to expect from the band: cinematic, catchy with plenty of vibe to get your body moving and ear-candy to keep the mind gazing.
FUTURENOT will have their vinyl release show on February 10, 2023 at Madame Lou’s in Seattle, WA with Big Tooth who will be releasing their album “Hair Conditioned” at the same event. Early set, doors at 5:30 PM, music at 6:30 PM. Tickets can be purchased here.
The critically acclaimed and award winning instrumental recording duo, Hot Mustard, has begun to roll out material from their forthcoming sophomore album Seconds, which is scheduled for release March 31st, 2023 (Color Red). Featured in Relix's '5 Artists You Should Know About', Glide Magazine, Jazz Weekly, and taking home the Charleston City Paper Music Award for "Up and Coming Artist of the Year" in their hometown, HM has begun to turn heads with their clever quality of audio/visual creation. In reverence of golden era boom bap hip-hop/60s/early 70s funk/soul and library style music, the duo meticulously carves out interesting compositions rooted in sounds that feel familiar enough to invoke nostalgia but also contain the depth to conjure intriguing new worlds.
"Nickel Empire," the third musical offering from the forthcoming LP, features frequent collaborators Jordan McLean (Antibalas) on trumpet and Dave “Smoota” Smith (TV on the Radio) on trombone, and also marks the debut appearance of Belgian-born New Orleans cellist Helen Gillet whose commanding performance weaves together the narrative structure of the track extraordinarily.
The animated music video was created by band member Jack Powell (Opus Thimble), whose visuals are best described as truly sui generis, sometimes drawing comparison to Terry Gilliam (Monty Python). "Nickel Empire," which becomes available on Feb 10th, 2022, serves as an excellent sneak peek into the new album and cements another brilliantly imaginative piece into the growing HM body of work.
"I wanted to do a piece about mental health," says Powell, "as I've gotten older I have faced the sometimes painful realization that I need to drastically shift my way of life and thinking. I let some things that were once a lot of fun outlive their rewards. The video is just one small aspect of that; it's about cleaning the castle of negative and destructive thoughts."
On Tuesday, February 21st, an all-star collaboration between George Porter Jr. (The Meters), Eddie Roberts (The New Mastersounds), Robert Walter (Greyboy Allstars & Roger Waters), and Nikki Glaspie will celebrate Fat Tuesday with the release of “Mardi Gras Day.” Featuring Big Chief Donald Harrison on alto saxophone, the track is the lead single off of a forthcoming record Floki Sessions: Boots in Place that will be released this summer via Eleven Music Experience in collaboration with Color Red.
The album was recorded at Floki Studios located in the Fljót Valley on the mountainous Troll Peninsula in northern Iceland at Eleven Experience's Deplar Farm. Robert Walter brought in this instrumental groove to the session and upon hearing it, Roberts was immediately transported to the sounds of The Wild Magnolias and other Mardi Gras Indian recordings of the ‘70s. After the initial session in Iceland, Eddie approached Big Chief Donald Harrison who is revered as an iconic jazz artist best known for being the horn counterpart of trumpeter Terrance Blanchard in the ‘80s lineup of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Donald is also the Chief of Congo Square in Afro-New Orleans Culture. While performing in Denver fall of 2022 and they seized the opportunity to get him into Color Red Studios to craft “Mardi Gras Day.” Eddie remembers Donald saying that there were no songs out there with “Mardi Gras Day” as the hook and the rest wrote itself.
“It doesn’t come much more legit than a Mardi Gras anthem played by two of New Orleans’ legends, George Porter Jr. and Big Chief Donald Harrison,” remarks Roberts, “In fact, everyone on the track has lived or gigged heavily in New Orleans at some point in their careers. This new record captures the spirit of some classic Mardi Gras Indian tracks of the ’70s, but is brought to life in 2023!”
Porter adds, “Big Chief Harrison has brought a fresh spin to Mardi Gras Tradition. Paying homage to that tradition is important to keeping the culture alive.”
This inaugural edition of the Floki Sessions comes hot off the heels of The New Mastersounds’ The Deplar Effect which garnered acclaim earning the #1 spot on the Relix Radio Charts, reached the #24 spot on NACC’s 2022 R&B/Soul Charts, and editorial playlist support on Spotify & Apple Music. In addition to Roberts’ successes with The Deplar Effect and a recent run in Japan with The New Mastersounds, Walter has been the touring keyboardist with Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) and Glaspie has maintained an active schedule touring with Trouble No More, an all-star tribute to The Allman Brothers.
The full-length album produced by Roberts will feature guest artist appearances by Erica Falls (Galactic), Son Little, Lamar Williams. Jr. (Trouble No More, The New Mastersounds & North Mississippi All-Stars), Tierinii Jackson (Southern Avenue), Eric “Benny” Bloom (Lettuce) and rising Chicago artist GreenTTea.
On March 3rd, 11x GRAMMY-award winning trumpeter & arranger, Philip Lassiter, released "Purple," the aptly titled tribute to Prince featuring global saxophone sensation Candy Dulfer. The track is the lead single off of a forthcoming album recorded live in Amsterdam with a 14-piece ensemble and cast of special guests featured throughout. "Purple" comes off the heels of Lassiter's debut Color Red single "Simmer Down" which was released on December 30th.
Lassiter first connected with Prince in 2010 when he auditioned to be his horn arranger/section leader and landed the gig performing with New Power Generation. Like many of the late genre-defying master’s collaborators, Lassiter was inspired by Prince’s work ethic and dedication to experimentation. With its Prince-like driving quarter note groove and syncopated guitar and bass line, Lassiter helms a 15-piece ensemble in the live recording that embodies the spirit of Prince. The punctuated, shout-like horn melodies trade with layered vocal harmonies before an asserted horn soli launches into rounds of deliberate solos performed by Jordy Kalfsvel on keyboards, Lassiter on trumpet, and capped off with a powerful, extended solo by Dulfer on alto saxophone. Though Lassiter and Dulfer never performed with Prince at the same time (she was in his band during the 2003-2005 Musicology era), the two connected when Lassiter relocated to The Netherlands two years ago and have been collaborating together ever since.
The track comes out ahead of a robust European tour Lassiter is embarking on with key plays at FinEst Funk Festival (Tallinn, Estonia) and Vossa Jazz Festival (Vossa, Norway), and more.
For more information and to learn more, visit philthyfunk.com.
The critically acclaimed and award-winning instrumental recording duo, Hot Mustard, is proud to announce their forthcoming sophomore album, Seconds, which is scheduled for release March 31st, 2023 (Color Red). Featured in Relix's '5 Artists You Should Know About', Glide Magazine and Jazz Weekly, plays on KCRW and KUTX and taking home the Charleston City Paper Music Award for "Up and Coming Artist of the Year" in their hometown, HM has begun to turn heads with their clever quality of audio/visual creation. In reverence of golden era boom bap hip-hop/60s/early 70s funk/soul and library style music, the duo has drawn an eclectic variety of comparisons, from Daptone to DJ Shadow, Pete Rock to Keith Mansfield, Ennio Morricone to Portishead - and none of it feels entirely unwarranted as they’ve continued to meticulously carve out a sound that feels familiar enough to invoke nostalgia but also contains the depth to conjure intriguing new worlds. The Seconds album is laced with intricate brass work by Jordan McLean (Antibalas) and Dave "Smoota" Smith (TV on the Radio) and features two stellar guest appearances by virtuoso cellist Helen Gillet of New Orleans, a healthy dose of Hammond organ by the talented Ross Bogan (Doom Flamingo, Lureto) and a special vocal performance by Alanna Royale (Colemine Records).
"The End of Time," the fourth and final single, features the brilliant Alanna Royale, who adds a dash of soulful spice to the Hot Mustard jar by delivering a short but stirring vocal performance. The skillful organ chops of Ross Bogan carry the track vigilantly to a bittersweet ending, closing out the sophomore album in exceptional style, cementing another inspiring work of art into the Hot Mustard catalog.
The animated music video was created by band member Jack Powell (Opus Thimble), whose visuals are best described as truly sui generis, sometimes drawing comparisons to Terry Gilliam (Monty Python). "The End of Time" becomes available to all major streaming services on March 10th, 2022.
"Parts of the video are in tribute to a canine friend of the Hot Mustard family who tragically passed in the thick of the song's creation," says Powell. "There are obvious themes like the universally shared experience in the unstoppable march of time, life, death, mortality, rebirth, but I think that it's also ambiguous enough to carry a multitude of meanings to viewers who choose to relate it to their own personal experience. That's the aspect of art that I love the most, that interpretations of art can be as uniquely personal as art itself."
Since the release of his intrepid debut album Gateway to the Galaxy, Marcus Rezak has become a staple in today’s touring circuit known for his virtuosic guitar playing and flexibility to maneuver through a variety of projects. His road warrior reputation spans bandleader endeavors that include his high-octane Grateful Dead tribute project Shred is Dead; his newly-launched Gumbo project performing notable 90s Phish shows in their entirety and performing original music under his name. The Chicago native has connected with GRAMMY-award-winner Paul Nelson to produce his next body of work entitled Guitar Head, a blues-oriented album that melds his prestige in the jam, improvisation, and songwriting world with his roots that hail from the “Home of the Blues.” The lead single “Sweet Like Mary Jane” will come out via Color Red on Thursday, March 16th in tandem with a 3-night run on the east coast with plays in Newmarket, NH (3/16), Waterbury, VT (3/17), and Cohoes, NY (3/18). Rezak will be joined by Ray Paczkowski (Trey Anastasio Band), Felix Pastorius (Jeff Coffin Mu'Tet / Hipster Assassins), Adrian Tramontano (Twiddle & Kung Fu), Chris DeAngelis (Kung Fu & The Machine), Cotter Ellis (Swimmer), and Matt Dolliver (Swimmer) throughout the performances.
Inspired by late ‘60s freedom rock, the anthemic “Sweet Like Mary Jane” does not leave room for interpretation with its progressive blues homage to women working in the cannabis industry. The song celebrates free spirits who enjoy fine herbs and rock ‘n’ roll drawing influence from Jimi Hendrix’s blues-rock era and a modern vocal and guitar solo style inspired by Warren Haynes. The track features Ray Paczkowski (Trey Anastasio Band), Adrian Tramontano (Twiddle & Kung Fu), and Chris DeAngelis (Kung Fu & The Machine).
Rezak connected with esteemed blues guitarist and producer, Paul Nelson, after a performance he had at The Music Room in Yarmouth, MA. They immediately hit it off after an impressive performance as they dove through Nelson’s distinguished career which includes being hand-picked to join Johnny Winter’s band in 2010 and producing several of his records including his GRAMMY-nominated albums I'm a Blues Man, Roots, and Step Back, which won the GRAMMY Award for Best Blues Album and debuted at #1 on the Billboard chart for Blues Albums. Nelson enthusiastically conveyed that he would love to produce Rezak’s next record. They recorded the album at The Music Room’s world-class, in-house studio laying down Rezak’s initial ideas in one day of pre-production and later joined by Rezak’s frequent collaborators and top-call east coast musicians Adrian Tramontano (Twiddle & Kung Fu) on drums and Chris DeAngelis (Kung Fu & The Machine) on bass laying the rhythm section foundation for Guitar Head in a vigorous 1-day session that produced 10 songs. After Rezak honed the final guitar and vocal parts in subsequent sessions, the tracks were sent to keyboardist Ray Paczkowski of Trey Anastasio Band, whom Rezak had worked with on his 2020 EP Truth in Sound. With Ray’s finessed keyboard parts recorded at his home studio, the final piece of the puzzle was having Erik Lawrence of Levon Helm Ramble Horns to fill out four of the tracks with horn parts.
With a release date TBD, Rezak is assured that Guitar Head will be his best album to date. "Working with GRAMMY-winning producer Paul Nelson has been an absolute pleasure and has brought out the best in my guitar, playing and songwriting for this record,” he says, “Additionally, having a world-class rhythm, section helps make things go smoothly as they did for the making of this album. Adrian Tramontano, Chris DeAngelis, Ray Paczkowski, and Erik Lawrence make for a dream team that can only be heard on this recording."
Nelson shares Rezak’s fervor for the forthcoming record, “Marcus is a force to be reckoned with—as both a guitarist songwriter and vocalist. It was a real pleasure to produce his latest album which I feel showcases his diversity and amazing talent.”
The first taste of the album and “Sweet Like Mary Jane” release run is as follows with respective lineups for each date:
Thursday, March 16: The Stone Church Music Club, Newmarket, NH - Feat. Ray Paczkowski (TAB) and Chris DeAngelis (Machine) and Cotter Ellis / Matt Dolliver (Swimmer) | TIX
Friday, March 17th: Zenbarn - Waterbury, VT - Feat. Ray Paczkowski (TAB) Adrian Tramontano (Twiddle) Chris DeAngelis (The Machine) and Matt Dolliver (Swimmer) | TIX
Saturday, March 18th: Cohoes Music Hall - Cohoes, NY - Feat. Ray Paczkowski (TAB) Adrian Tramontano (Twiddle) Felix Pastorius (Jeff Coffin Mu'Tet / Hipster Assassins) and special guests | TIX
"Sweet Like Mary Jane" can be pre-saved & listened to here. For more information and to learn more, visit marcusrezak.com.
If luck is what happens when hard work meets opportunity, the union of Eddie Roberts & The Lucky Strokes epitomizes that adage. The New Mastersounds’ guitarist and bandleader has a knack for leaning into individual strengths and that sensibility is evidenced through his recruitment of Mississippi-based guitarist and vocalist, Shelby Kemp (Royal Horses), who brings a Southern rock grit and candid, nimble songwriting to team up with the Tampa Bay-based Galbraith Sisters who possess a simpatico rhythm section chemistry only found within a family bloodline. The project will release their debut single "Whiskey Makes Me Stronger" on April 14th ahead of a string of dates around Jazz Fest in New Orleans, Lousiana.
The quartet first teamed up to perform Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom’s 20th Anniversary party in Denver, CO and recorded a full-length record at Color Red Studios the next day to further solidify the newly forged musical connection. The sound is an amalgamation of celebrated country lyricists such as Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and George Jones mixed with the rhythmically driven aesthetics of James Brown and rounded out by honest rock ‘n’ roll. Powered by the urbane guitar playing and production of Roberts and you have a new tour de force ensemble that makes listeners stop in their tracks the same way Roberts did upon hearing the talents of Kemp and the Galbraith Sisters. “We’ve recorded this album super raw—it’s funky southern rock crunched to tape, in one take, just like it should be," says Roberts of the new collaborative project.
Whiskey Makes Me Stronger” is written from the point of view of a hard-headed man who is stewing over the behavior of his partner and just can’t seem to figure out how to tell them about it. Despite internal conversations and talking to his friends, things are worsening and he’s letting the whiskey do the talking for him. “The message, if there even is one, is to seek therapy from a professional, not a bottle,” reveals vocalist/guitarist Shelby Kemp.
The band will be performing the following shows at Jazz Fest featuring some of the brand new material recorded at Color Red Studios:
Color Red Records is thrilled to announce the release of Ari Joshua's latest single "Soulmine" featuring an all-star cast of musicians. The single showcases the exceptional talents of composer Ari Joshua on guitar, Delvon Lamarr on Hammond organ, Skerik on sax, Grant Schroff on drums, and Tor Dietrichson on Congas.
Already a hit with Funk, Jazz, and Jam music fans, "Soulmine" has received critical acclaim since its release last week. It earned a coveted spot on Spotify's ‘official editors’ funk playlist and caught the attention of curators and radio stations. "Soulmine" was also featured on Michael B's popular podcast, "40 Minutes of Funk," which has just broken into the top 100 podcasts list this week. Guests this week also include internationally acclaimed keyboardist Robert Walter.
This is the second of three tracks from the quartet, building on the success of last month's "Fresh." Percussionist Tor Dietrichson adds a Ray-Barretto-like glue to the organ groove, creating a nostalgic 1970s vibe. The bassline, guitar riffs, and sax lines come together in perfect harmony, creating a sonic masterpiece that kept us moving and grooving from start to finish.
With the success of "Soulmine," Color Red Records is excited to release the next single from this talented lineup. "Spooky" is set to drop on April 28th, promising even more funky and soulful music.
In addition, fans can look forward to even more music from Ari Joshua. "Lights Out" featuring Ari Joshua on guitar (Big High, AriSawkaDoria), Eden Ladin on keys (Gilad Hekselman, Avishai Cohen), John Kimock on drums (Mike Gordon Band, Otiel Burbridge & Friends), and Andy Hess on bass (Gov’t Mule, Black Crowes) will be released on April 14th. The Music Factory Label is also gearing up to release two more tracks from Ari's vault, "Kambo Wambo," an Afrobeat groove featuring Ray and Russ from Soule Monde, and "Let's Do It Right Now," a jazz-oriented track featuring Medeski, Martin, and Fraticelli.
Stay tuned for more from Color Red Records and Ari Joshua via his label, this music is continuing to inject new life to Funk, Jazz, and Jam music scenes.
Credits:
Ari Joshua - Guitar
Skerik - Saxophone
Delvon Lamarr - Keyboards
Grant Schroff - Drums
Tor Dietrichson - Percussion
Tracking Engineer - Mell Dettmer, Studio Soli
Overdub Engineer - Jason Gray, Blue Mallard Recording
Mixing Engineer - Jason Gray, Blue Mallard Recording
“Second Son” by Honey Island Swamp Band is the lead single off of the band’s debut Color Red album Custom Deluxe coming out on June 23rd. It is the band’s first release since 2016 with a collection of songs recorded between 2018-2022. With a slick throwback feel that feels like 70s action flicks such as Superfly and Starsky & Hutch, the song was written in collaboration between vocalist/guitarist Aaron Wilkinson and keyboardist Chris Spies and recorded at Color Red Studios during a 2-day session. While Wilkenson is the second son of a second son and the song is autobiographical in that sense, he tends to approach songwriting writing about characters as opposed to the author’s experiences heavily inspired by Steely Dan. In this case, he is envisioning a character who is a vagabond living hard and road weary. The track also features frequent Color Red collaborators vocalist Adryon de Leon and Madrid-based guitarist Lucas de Mulder. The track release comes ahead of the group’s Sunday afternoon fairgrounds performance at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Bajaja Music Fest has announced its inaugural three-day event taking place from November 30 - December 2 on the Pacific beachside of Baja California Sur, providing 8+ hours of music every day and one-of-a-kind collaborations that won’t be found at any other festival this year.
This boutique festival will feature headliners The New Mastersounds, performing their first North American gig since the pandemic and their only North American date of 2023, and John Medeski, DJ Logic, & Friends featuring Eddie Roberts, Reed Mathis, Datrian Johnson + Special Guests. Bass & guitar virtuoso Reed Mathis, Norwegian-born, Americana singer-songwriter Rainy Eyes, and longstanding San Francisco-based stalwarts of rock Big Light will support alongside local favorites Los Daturas and Los Hijos Del Trópico with more bands to be announced. Each night will feature a unique collaboration of all-star musicians playing together fostering a community of musical collaborations intersecting with an intimate audience of festival goers in a bespoke experience unlike any other.
In anticipation of The New Mastersounds' first North American performance in over three years, bandleader & guitarist Eddie Roberts says, "What's better than your favorite bands, on a beach in Mexico, with a small audience of like-minded people? That's what's going on in Baja this winter! After 2 years separated by an ocean, the NMS will play their first shows on the American continent since January 2020 and we hope to see friends and fans new and old there!"
Just as exciting as the lineup is the epic location, the beachfront venue Amaya. The picturesque setting sets the scene to gather with friends new and old on a magical, pristine beach, Playa San Pedrito, with views of the mountains and a palm grove where the sun sets into the ocean. Amaya is in close proximity to Los Cabos, the world-renowned surf hub Todos Santos, offering some of the best waves in North America; the bustling oasis of La Paz, and the bohemian beach community of El Pescadero.
The festival’s organizers believe the future is in authentic, intimate events and invite music lovers to come to Bajaja for a different kind of experience with fewer boundaries between attendees and artists. “Everyone invited to the Bajaja is a VIP!” said JamBase co-founder Ted Kartzman. “We will cap tickets in the low hundreds, and our vision is everyone will feel like family by the end of the weekend.” In addition to Kartzman, the festival is also being produced by fellow reapandsow veterans Aaron Kayce and Chris Joseph in conjunction with the superb team at Amaya in BCS, Mexico
Bajaja is designed to be safe, easy to get to, and fun for solo travelers, couples, groups of friends, and families alike. In an effort to ensure flexibility, the festival is not all-inclusive so attendees can curate their own lodging and transportation experiences that can accommodate groups of all sizes and provide a truly choose-your-own-adventure event. You can find a comprehensive list of suggested accommodation options that include boutique hotels, private rental homes alongside a step-by-step guide to plan your trip, and more HERE.
In tandem with top-tier talent and one-of-a-kind collaborations, Bajaja Music Fest aims to stand out in the destination festival world by surrounding itself with a multitude of options for daytime activities and recreation that aren’t confined to a singular resort. Located in the heart of one of the most world-renowned beaches, options are abundant to surf, boogie board with kids, fish, or sip an ice-cold cerveza in the sun. For those looking to venture out on excursions, there are accessible options for horseback riding trips in the sand, snorkeling in crystal blue waters, ripping dune buggies in the desert, or soaking in the sights of the 1700s-style Spanish colonial towns and exploring local communities. This event transcends your typical resort experience in Cabo and immerses you in music, scenery, and all that Baja has to offer.
JamBase’s inaugural editor-in-chief and industry veteran Aaron Kayce says, "I've been dreaming of getting artists we love booked into unique, tropical locations for years. I truly believe this is the future of destination events, where you can immerse yourself in the culture of the places we all want to visit and see our favorite bands at night. For me this is a dream come true, and I know from talking with the artists we are booking it’s a dream come true for them as well. These are the experiences we long to create—not just a concert, not just a vacation, the best of both worlds. And I believe anyone who is lucky enough to be at Bajaja will agree that this really is a dream come true. See y’all on the beach!”
Tickets to the Bajaja Music Fest are currently priced at $289 until June 12th when the next tier of tickets will jump up to $349 until August 16. The final tier will be $389 and will remain until the festival sells out.
For more information and to stay posted on additional artist announcements, visit: bajajamusicfest.com
Acclaimed indie-soul songwriter Son Little makes a guest appearance on "Fall Right In," the final single release of the forthcoming Floki Sessions: Boots in Place' album available on July 7, 2023, via Floki Studios. The all-star collaborative album features George Porter Jr. (The Meters), Eddie Roberts (The New Mastersounds), Robert Walter (Greyboy Allstars & Roger Waters), and Nikki Glaspie (The Nth Power) in a potent collective effort recorded at Floki Studios in the Fljót Valley on the mountainous Troll Peninsula in northern Iceland at Eleven Experience's Deplar Farm during the winter of 2021.
"Fall Right In" sees a merger between the studied funk prowess of the core quartet and Son Little’s smooth, bluesy vocal stylings over a quirky arrangement with lyrics detailing the underbelly of New Orleans. While performing a headlining show at The Bluebird Theater in Denver, CO in November 2022, Son Little connected with Eddie Roberts who recruited him to guest on the track and come into Color Red Studios to work on the arrangement. The final outcome presents the perfect follow-up to Son Little's recent Like Neptune album and a guest appearance on the Eric Krasno & Otis McDonald project King Canyon amidst a busy touring schedule that includes upcoming appearances at The Kennedy Center, The Peach Music Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, and more.
This inaugural edition of the Floki Sessions comes hot off the heels of The New Mastersounds’ The Deplar Effect which garnered acclaim earning the #1 spot on the Relix Radio Charts, reached the #24 spot on NACC’s 2022 R&B/Soul Charts, and editorial playlist support on Spotify & Apple Music. In addition to Roberts’ successes with The Deplar Effect and a recent run in Japan with The New Mastersounds, Walter has been the touring keyboardist with Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) and Glaspie has maintained an active schedule touring with Trouble No More, an all-star tribute to The Allman Brothers.
The full-length album produced by Roberts will also feature guest artist appearances by Erica Falls (formerly Galactic), Lamar Williams. Jr. (Trouble No More, The New Mastersounds & North Mississippi All-Stars), Tierinii Jackson (Southern Avenue), Eric “Benny” Bloom (Lettuce), and rising Chicago artist GreenTTea.
The New Mastersounds’ guitarist and bandleader Eddie Roberts has released the second single with his brand new project The Lucky Strokes entitled “Sweet Dreams.” The newly formed band features Mississippi-based vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Shelby Kemp (Royal Horses) and the Florida-based sisters Ashely Galbraith on bass and Taylor Galbraith on drums. The release comes ahead of the band’s debut west coast performances next weekend with play at Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley on 8/12 and The Peppermint Club in West Hollywood on 8/13.
“Sweet Dreams” started out as a funky blues guitar riff Roberts sent Kemp who penned lyrics over his morning coffee experimenting with various melodies for the hook. He eventually landed on a soaring three-part harmony part after recalling learning how to sing those kinds of harmonies with his mother while sitting in the car with her as a kid. The lyrics contrast the ethereal harmonies as he reflects, “The song is transparently about someone who is preying upon your mind for a while and the need to lay eyes or hands on them to ease your mind, but the character in the song seems to be a bit difficult to nail down. Maybe they are a traveler of sorts or just unreliable, or maybe the protagonist is in denial about the reality of the relationship.”
The new project’s name was not forged by accident or cheekiness. Roberts had initially connected with Kemp through his longtime friend and musical collaborator, keyboardist Chris Spies, who brought him into a session at Color Red Studios in Denver, Colorado to record with his psych-country-rock project Royal Horses. Roberts was also blown away by Kemp’s rendition of Little Milton’s “Grits Ain’t Groceries” to the point of feeling compelled to put together a band with him. In November 2022, Roberts was performing at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday at Station Square Park in downtown Clearwater, FL and Taylor Galbraith was on the lineup on drums. He would later find out that not only was Taylor an outstanding drummer, but her sister Ashley was also an acclaimed bassist in the area and the two possessed a simpatico rhythm section chemistry only found within a family bloodline. The cogs were whirling and personnel was finally in place epitomizing the adage that luck is what happens when hard work meets opportunity.
The story deepens beyond the organic cultivation of the band. At 11:20pm on New Year's Eve during an Eddie Roberts & Friends performance at The Brickyard in Mobile, AL, Eddie and Shelby were once again sharing the stage when what had initially sounded like celebratory fireworks ended up being gunfire ringing out outside of the club. A second blast sent shrapnel flying through the open doors above the heads of the glass and Eddie recalled seeing a piece of it in slow motion flying towards him during a solo that ricocheted off of his left index finger. The crowd hit the deck and the unfortunate reality of the situation ended up being a shooting due to a gang-related retaliation outside of the club, which the group would later find out left one dead and nine hospitalized. After sheltering in the office and ensuring the scene was safe, the band ended up performing for around 100 or so people who still remained in the club until 3:30 in the morning.
A few days later after returning home and setting up for a hometown show in Mississippi, Kemp had realized that a piece of the shrapnel that had flown through the door and bounced off of Eddie's finger turned out to be the bullet casing from one of the shots fired that had landed in the back of his amp. It was a stroke of luck that none of the musicians or concertgoers were injured and in a synergetic way, it felt as though the musical torch had been passed between the two musicians. The following month, Shelby presented Eddie with a necklace made from the bullet casing signifying their bond and newfound lease on life and musical collaboration.
A few weeks later, Eddie flew the Galbraith sisters to Denver to perform with him and Shelby at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom celebrating the venue’s 20th anniversary. The energy and connection between the quartet was unmistakable and they stuck around to record the project’s debut album which will be available via Color Red on October 13th. The record can be pre-ordered HERE.
Acclaimed New Orleans-based blues-roots-rock quintet Honey Island Swamp Band has released their new single “Gone” and announced their sixth studio album, Custom Deluxe, will be released on Friday, October 27th. “Gone,” the first track recorded for the new album, was tracked at Eagle Wind Sound studio in Winter Park, Colorado, owned by the Alan Parsons’ Project’s singer, PJ Olsson. PRESS HERE to listen to “Gone” and PRESS HERE to watch the official music video, directed by Daniel Sanda. Custom Deluxe, the band’s debut release for Color Red, is available to pre-order/pre-save now – PRESS HERE to pre-save on DSPs, PRESS HERE to pre-order vinyl, and PRESS HERE to pre-order on CD.
“‘Gone’ was a really fun tune to write and always a pleasure to perform,” shares front man Aaron Wilkinson. “I love songs with clever lyrics and a lot of them. Singing these harmonies with the guys in the band never gets old.”
Of the new album, Wilkinson adds, “In the years it took to make this album, we all went through unprecedented changes. It seems like ages since we released a new record, so we are just thrilled and feel extremely blessed to finally share these new songs with the world. And getting to put this out through Color Red is such a bonus. Not only is Eddie Roberts a personal friend, but he and the entire team are among the finest musicians and creative talents we have ever had the pleasure to work with. We are proud and extremely thankful to be a part of the Color Red family.”
“Honey Island Swamp Band are longtime friends and collaborators,” says Color Red label head Eddie Roberts. “From first meeting Chris Spies when I was living in NOLA and we played the legendary Maple Leaf together, or the time the band brought me on stage for their Jazz & Heritage Festival set, which was my first time playing the famed fest, there’s always been a strong musical connection between us. Not to mention that we tracked a couple of the album’s songs at our Color Red studio. It was an obvious decision to bring the band on board for this great album release on Color Red.”
Custom Deluxe marks the most satisfying, consolidative album to date for Honey Island Swamp Band and the follow-up to 2016’s Demolition Days. Songs like the kinetic “High River Rag,” authoritative “Wildfire” and blues-rocking “Sugar for Sugar” display these musical omnivores at a new zenith. The 10 songs on Custom Deluxe, produced by Jack Miele and Wilkinson, were recorded at various studios around the U.S. during off days amidst a heady touring cycle, including on top of a mountain in Colorado and a lengthy session in the Big Easy. Previously released single “Second Son” was recorded at Color Red’s Denver studio with Roberts accompanying on the song.
Honey Island Swamp Band will head out on the road this fall in support of Custom Deluxe including various shows in New Orleans and select festival appearances. The band will officially celebrate the release of Custom Deluxe on Saturday, October 28th with a hometown album release party at Maple Leaf in New Orleans with The Lucky Strokes. See below for upcoming dates and visit www.honeyislandswampband.com for more information.
Since forming in 2005 in San Francisco after their displacement from New Orleans via Katrina, and subsequently relocating back home, Honey Island Swamp Band has evolved to embody contemporary roots music. The fivesome — bandleader and multi-instrumentalist Aaron Wilkinson, guitarist and vocalist Lee Yankee, bassist Sam Price, keyboardist Chris Spies, and drummer and vocalist Garland Paul — is a thrilling, eclectic band that defies genre conventions, renders song structures elastic, and wholeheartedly stresses that the song reigns supreme. Their music is melody-driven, vocal-driven, and lyric-driven, with influences that range from Jason Isbell, John Prine, Little Feat, Junior Wells and The Meters to Fleetwood Mac, Taj Mahal, Iron and Wine, Peter Gabriel, and Beck. Throughout their storied career, Honey Island Swamp Band has performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival for 15 consecutive years as well as appearances at Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Americana Fest Nashville, Thunder Bay Blues Fest, Jam Cruise, and many more, and have toured and/or performed alongside the likes of JJ Grey and Mofro, Leftover Salmon, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Ave, Soul Rebels, Galactic, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Derek Trucks Band, Anders Osborne, and North Mississippi Allstars.
As a whole, Custom Deluxe shows the Honey Island Swamp Band to represent the best of two worlds: a band capable of sharp, solid writing, who can also bend and stretch the material live in the spirit of Van Morrison or the Allman Brothers Band. After so many years together, the band is more capable than ever of surprising you and sticking in your craw.
TOUR DATES
September 8 – New Orleans, LA @ DBA
September 9 – New Orleans, LA @ unCommon Construction Birthday Bash
September 23 – New Orleans, LA @ Maple Leaf
September 30 – Pensacola, FL @ Pensacola Seafood Fest
October 13 – Fairhope, AL @ Wynterfest
October 14 – New Orleans, LA @ Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
October 19-20 – Grass Valley, CA @ Sugar Pine Music Festival
October 28 – New Orleans, LA @ Maple Leaf *Album Release Party
November 4-11 – Spanish Fort, LA @ Big Easy Cruise
December 2 – Ocean Springs, MS @ Silent Light Fest
December 3 – New Orleans, LA @ Saints Pre-Game Concert
Today, longstanding international funk and soul-jazz heroes The New Mastersounds have released “Smoothie,” the second single off of their forthcoming album ‘Old School’ available via One Note Records on March 29th.
Blended with love and care and packed with nutrients, “Smoothie" is an uptempo, tambourine-driven soul-jazz groover sitting somewhere between Boogaloo Joe Jones and early James Taylor Quartet but with a much crunchier drum sound courtesy of the band’s rhythmkeeper Simon Allen and with a blistering organ melody from keyboardist Joe Tatton. In music, just like smoothies, you get out what you put in, and The New Mastersounds have been putting the work and talent into their craft for decades. The release of ‘Old School’ finds the group showcasing 10 original instrumental compositions composed and performed at the Joe Tatton’s studio in the heart of the English Peak District during a rainy week in July 2023.
‘Old School’ is being pressed and distributed in the UK with limited distribution access in the US. However, fans in the US can guarantee their copy by signing up for the Color Red Vinyl Club.
The Color Red Vinyl Club sends high-quality 180g vinyl records straight to your doorstep every month featuring records produced and curated by Eddie Roberts and the Color Red team. Vinyl club members are treated to an exclusive experience often receiving special colored vinyl available only to vinyl club members, signed covers or inserts, and more to make the experience extra special. Color Red Vinyl Club members have access to the label's vinyl releases before anybody else and Color Red ships records as soon as they hit their doorstep, even if it's before the official street date.
New subscribers who sign up during March will receive a copy of ‘Old School’ signed by all four members of The New Mastersounds PLUS a FREE COPY of The New Mastersounds' first 2001 record 'Keb Darge Presents: The New Mastersounds.’
The band is about to embark on their first US tour in 5 years kicking off in Crested Butte, Colorado on March 27th. Most of the tour dates will be supported by Roberts’ new Southern funk/blues projects The Lucky Strokes featuring Roberts, vocalist/guitarist Shelby Kemp, and St. Petersburg, FL-based rhythm section Ashley and Taylor Galbraith on bass and drums respectively.
To purchase tickets and learn more about the forthcoming record, please visit thenewmastersounds.com.
