Prog Jazz – VoyagerFest http://www.voyagerfest.org Experimental. Progressive. Evolving. Sat, 23 Jul 2016 05:45:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 http://www.voyagerfest.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/cropped-voyager-favicon-32x32.png Prog Jazz – VoyagerFest http://www.voyagerfest.org 32 32 Black Ladder http://www.voyagerfest.org/2016/07/16/black-ladder-2 Sat, 16 Jul 2016 23:33:52 +0000 http://www.voyagerfest.org/?p=740 Black Ladder is a progressive rock trio based in Austin, TX. Members include Shane Lamb (keyboard), Clarence Riley, IV (bass), and Ray Cardenas (drums). Coming originally from two separate, disbanded groups, the three met up regularly for casual jam sessions. After much unformulated playing, they found their styles created a unique sound and started structuring their material. The band’s sound developed from a merging of Shane’s classically influenced licks, Clarence’s heavy funk bass lines, and Ray’s crafted rock grooves. In 2010, they recorded in the University of Texas at Austin recording studio, resulting in the Black Ladder EP. From late 2011 to early 2012, after performing regularly in and around the Austin area promoting the EP, Black Ladder went on to record and produce their first full-length, self-titled debut album, which was released April 2012.  Black Ladder is currently finishing production on their second full-length album with a targeted release date of Fall 2016.

]]> Circling Drones http://www.voyagerfest.org/2016/07/16/circlingdrones-2 Sat, 16 Jul 2016 23:31:26 +0000 http://www.voyagerfest.org/?p=738 Circling-Drones-FullBandStarted in 2013, Circling Drones is a funk-fusion jazz band from Austin, Texas, that play originals inspired by artists such as Jeff Beck, Freddie Hubbard and Eddie Harris. A lot of their songs have improvisation drawing from years of musical experience. With each note, comes a vibrant energy that flows through the listener to create a musical atmosphere. Circling Drones played 2014’s Austin Jazz Festival, 35 Denton, and last years’ Voyager Festival. They have played all over Austin at Whip In, Sahara Lounge, Holy Mountain, One-2-One Bar, Hole in the Wall, Upstairs on Trinity (Jazz Series), 311 Club, Speakeasy, Empire Control Room, Stay Gold and many more. Circling Drones just produced their first 7-song LP and will have their LP release show at The Mohawk on June 17th with Tomar and the FCS and Mama K and the Shades.

]]> Atlas Maior http://www.voyagerfest.org/2016/07/16/atlas-maior Sat, 16 Jul 2016 23:18:42 +0000 http://www.voyagerfest.org/?p=734 Atlas Maior maps diverse musical traditions, placing Jazz, Middle Eastern, and Latin American musical idioms in dialogue with one another.  The group composes music that pays homage to the stewards of these traditions and their cultural and geographic origins. Band members Joshua Thomson (alto saxophone, flutes), Charlie Lockwood (oud), and Ted Camat (percussion) create a unique sound that balances intimate moments of sincerity with powerful melodies and incendiary rhythmic passages.  Thomson and Lockwood write original melodies exploring maqamat (the Middle Eastern modal system) and harmonic progressions of American jazz.  Percussionist Ted Camat applies a wide variety of rhythms and traditional percussion instruments including the Middle Eastern dumbek, Peruvian cajón, Brazilian pandero.

The band takes its name from the first world atlas, published by Joan Bleau in Amsterdam in the 17th century. Founded in Austin, TX in 2009, Atlas Maior was inspired by the idea of creating original music encompassing the group’s wide range of musical inspirations, including Egyptian composer Mohammad abdul-Wahhab, Lebanese oud player Rabih Abou-Khalil, bassist Avishai Cohen, jazz artists Jackie McLean, Pharaoh Sanders, Sun Ra, and fusion projects such as Amalgama, Ojos de Brujo, Shakti, and local Austin world music pioneers Atash.

Atlas Maior Website 
Atlas Maior on Facebook
Atlas Maior on CD Baby
Atlas Maior on SoundCloud
Atlas Maior’s Youtube Channel

]]> Every Shape a Diamond http://www.voyagerfest.org/2016/07/16/every-shape-diamond Sat, 16 Jul 2016 22:33:50 +0000 http://www.voyagerfest.org/?p=716 Every Shape A Diamond (ESD) is an instrumental rock duo from Austin, Texas. The members of the duo are drummer David Pavkovic, and guitarist Joshua LaRue. Pavkovic and LaRue first crossed paths in 2001 through the indie-rock-jazz juggernaut know as HiM, the continually evolving group helmed by Doug Scharin. With HiM, Larue and Pavkovic survived awesomely treacherous tours across North America and Europe. By 2008, chance had it that both Pavkovic and Larue settled in Austin Texas and ESD was born. Initially an experimental weekly jam session, the duo soon began writing tunes and in the process, forged a sound that embraced their guitars, drums and sequenced synthesizers.

 

 

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