West, Andy - Andy West With Rama 1

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Magna Carta
Catalog Number: MA-9061-2
Format: CD
Total Time: 46:16:00

Andy West says that he has no direction on this album; he just plays what he feels. I cannot imagine what it would be like if he actually made a concept album with direction, it would be incredible. In spite of that, this is an extraordinarily ambitious and attention grabbing recording to say the least. It would not be hard to find envious artists that would love to create such brilliant music on just emotion alone. Having tremendous experience as bass player for the Dixie Dregs, has certainly honed his chops over the years. Although emotion is the impetus of his artistry, he has a firm grip on the technical aspects of the music.

Mike Keneally, the wandering guitar and keyboard wizard, steps in to play some mind melting guitar licks and whirling dervish keys. He also changes the pace when necessary when West decides to take things in a decidedly jazz-fusion direction. Then to make things even more interesting and intense, Toshi Iseda jumps into the fray with some of his own fret bending genius.

The lineup West has on this CD is simply awesome. You could not expect anything less than complete diversity, energy, and power coming from a group of standout musicians such as this. That is exactly what you get from start to finish on this album. It is a progressive rock explosion with such force that you be completely blown away when it is finished, then you will want more.

Tracklisting:
Mad March (4:15) / Meetings (5:55) / Herd Instinct (4:36) / Bloomsday (5:29) / Old Meat Frame (4:50) / Memento Mori (5:05) / Qubit (3:24) / Governments (4:08) / Resonate (4:54)

Musicians:
Andy West - bass, keyboards, guitar, synths
Rod Morgenstien - drums
Jonathan Mover - drums
Mike Portnoy - drums
Jens Johansson - keyboards, synths
Mike Keneally - keyboards, synths, guitar
T Lavtiz - keyboards, synths
Kit Watkins - keyboards, synths
Toshi Iseda - guitar

Discography:
Dixie Dregs - Free Fall (1977)
Dixie Dregs - What If (1978)
Dixie Dregs - Night Of The Living Dregs (1979)
Dixie Dregs - Dregs Of The Earth (1980)
Dixie Dregs - Unsung Heroes (1981)
Dixie Dregs - Industry Standard (1982)
Dixie Dregs - The Best Of The Dregs - Divided We Stand (1989)
Dixie Dregs - King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents... (1997)
Various - The Show That Never Ends - King Biscuit Best Of Progressive Rock (1998)
Various - Alive Down South
Zazen - Mystery School (1992)
Zazen - Enlightenment (1994)
Zazen - Canyons Of Light (1995)
Zazen - Cayman Blue (1997)
Rama 1 (2002)
(plus appearances on others' albums)

Genre: Other

Origin US

Added: September 29th 2002
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website: www.xen.com
Hits: 2162
Language: english