DAYS BETWEEN STATIONS

Days Between Stations is the creative partnership between guitarist Sepand Samzadeh and keyboardist Oscar Fuentes. The duo came together in Los Angeles in November 2003, and named the band after the 1985 novel by Steve Erickson. The band’s sound – Samzadeh calls it “art-rock,” Fuentes labels it “post-prog” – reflects their varied influences, as well as a shared disregard for stylistic boundaries... more

BILLY SHERWOOD

We are much honored this month to have Billy Sherwood (CIRCA:, former YES) as our interview guest. He just released his new CD titled "At The Speed Of Life". Currently, beside his solo projects he is one of the members of the band CIRCA:, formed by ex-YES members Tony Kaye and Alan White, along with Jimmy Haun. They released their first solo album in 2007, followed in 2008 by a live DVD. They are currently in the studio working on their second solo CD...more

Kate BUSH / Never For Ever

1980‘s “Never For Ever” is Kate’s 3rd album. The album was co-produced by Jon Kelly & Kate herself. One of the most interesting things about this album is that it is the first record by a British female artist to top the UK album charts. (Wikipedia). Kate’s progressive approach to music reaches its peak with Never For Ever. She tastefully blends different genres including folk, oriental, rock, classical and jazz. Unlike her first two albums which she wrote on piano, this one was written on synths... more

New Grass Revival are one of the pioneers of progressive bluegrass. Formed in 1971 by Sam Bush (mandolin/vocals), Curtis Burch (guitar), Ebo Walker (bass) and Courtney Johnson (banjo), they immediately got the attention from the industry both in a good and bad way. First of all, they were often told that their music was not bluegrass, and they knew it wasn’t “bluegrass” in its traditional sense, and it wasn’t what they were trying to achieve anyways. They were blending rock, soul and blues rhythms with the traditional bluegrass music. They were not wearing suites, but instead they had a more casual style along with long hair.

After Ebo Walker parted with the band, John Cowan, an Indiana native with rock and soul background joined the band. He was playing electric bass and had no experience in this domain. He also was a great tenor and he started doing lead vocals with Sam Bush after joining the band. His addition gave New Grass Revival a more progressive sound, not only because he was playing electric bass but his vocals were very different compared to the traditional bluegrass singers. It was as if a Motown artist was singing bluegrass. This was something unheard of, and revolutionary. In fact, still to this day he is one and only in this area.

Courtney Johnson and Curtis Burch left the band in 1981, Cowan and Bush met two incredibly talented musicians: Pat Flynn and Béla Fleck. Pat Flynn was a Southern California native who had moved to Colorado, and had actually opened for New Grass Revival before. He was a fan of the band, and had all their previous albums. Béla Fleck was a New Yorker, a very unique three finger style banjo player coming from an unusual place to play this instrument if you think about New York’s jazz and rock background. However, Fleck was not only into bluegrass, but he had a passion for Celtic music, reggae, and most of all, jazz.

After playing together for a couple years, the band recorded their first album together: “On The Boulevard”. There are 13 songs on the album, and you can see each musician's different musical tendencies coming together in great harmony. Pat Flynn appears as the third lead singer of the band with his steamy vocals and rock and blues influences. On The Boulevard and Get In The Wind are the songs that he sings on the album. John Cowan does most of the lead vocals and Sam Bush appears on One More Love Song, One of These Trains, and a Bob Marley cover One Love.

There are 2 instrumental songs. First one is Country Clare, with Fleck’s Celtic touch and Indian Hills with great Hungarian folk dance style fiddling by Sam Bush. The band adds a live song to end the album with: Walking in Jerusalem.

This is indeed a very important album in the band’s history. This line up of New Grass Revival is the most popular one. Fleck and Flynn absolutely bring a different sound to an already existing progressive approach. These four musicians are not just simply fusing the different styles with traditional bluegrass but they do this in their own original way, and this is what brings the success for them. All four of them are extremely talented instrumentalists (multi-instrumentalists to be more precise). And they play fast! They can rock you just like a stadium band does. If you have ever been to one of their concerts you know how it feels like. Or if you have ever been to any one of their solo concerts you will still see it. However, a nationwide reunion tour is desperately needed.

Hande BURDG