Comments:
We
started 2012 with a collection of amazing new bands and wonderful new musical
projects, "Airs - A Rock Opera" is one of these important musical
pojects released from the beginning of 2012 and, naturally, will be considered
as one of the best albuns from this year. Airs Project is led by
two musicians monsters already known of the progressive rock community,
Steve
Brockmann is the main magician of all arranegements, the holder of
the guitar and keyboards also the main producer of this project, he is
a multi- instrumentalist who has played an active role in Northern Germany’s
scenery, since the early 1980s, together with George Andrade, which,
is the responsible by the lyrics, where both are a perfect combination,
between the music and the lyrics, and become musically something that is
absolutely gorgeous, something like a majestic project, where all musical
elements work to a vibrant and emotional journey to the realm of Progressive
Rock world. Airs project takes its origin from the idea of creating
something exciting and really original in the actual musical scene. The
main musicians on this project, had a hard research, creating a special
combination of musical elements rarely found in existing projects, bringing
together complexity of multiple instrumental and vocals lines, specially
combined, which involves us around a trip into many musical genres, blending
unlimited orchestral possibilities, combining musical styles such as Symphonic
Progressive Rock, Heavy Metal, Melodic Metal, Hard Rock, Classic Rock and
Progressive Metal, into a modern experimentation, using diverse ways of
amazing arrangements. One of the main points in this production was the
correct choice of musicians featuring on this project, an amazing cast
of participants including prominent musicians, in both the instrumental,
also as the diversified vocals, very well interpreted by a set of singers,
where each has a defined interpretation within the musical ensemble. This
musical project is characterized by an elaborate harmonic texture, with
diverse rhythmic evolutions, clear melodic lines and a liking for sudden
instrumental alterations around the arrangements, which are many times
symphonic and melodic, that rapidly changing to a more aggressive line
of Heavy Metal and Prog Metal, which is remarkable by powerful drums, sometimes
using aggressive vocals, led by amazing guitars solos creating an overwhelming
musical dimension. Each member on the band and the cast, contributed with
their diverse musical influences and styles adding original ideas to elements
derived from Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Classical Rock, Melodic Hard
Rock and some touchs of Progressive Metal. If you admire an energetic and
creative music that catches your attention, surely "AIRS - A Rock Opera"
is your best choice, where really can be considered as an attractive album
for any Progressive Rock enthusiast. I have to say, congratulations guys,
to this amazing album with an impecable production. Musically the sound
on this album leans heavily on the influences of rock from seventies/eighties,
but with some hints of Rock from nineties, listen carefully and you will
find musical smells from "Black Sabbath", "Pink Floyd", "Yes",
"Uriah Heep", "Saga", "Styx", "Queensryche",
"Iron Maiden" and so on. "Airs - A Rock Opera" is an amazing
album for any fan of Progressive Rock, Hard Rock, Melodic Metal, Heavy
Metal, Prog Metal or for any fans of catchy music in general. Brilliant
and fantastic, highly recommendable...
The
line-up on AIRS - A Rock Opera's album are:
Steve
Brockmann - Guitars, Bass and all Keyboards
Jochen
Ohl - Drums on all Tracks But "Grounded Ii"
Phil
Robertson - Drums on "Grounded II"
Dave
Meros - Bass on "Annabelle" and "Flight II"
Christoph
Brockmann - Bass on "The Great Salt Pond"
Alan
Morse - Guitar Effects and solos to "Flight II"
With:
George
Andrade - Provides Spoken Words for Owen
Seann
Jackson - Provides Spoken Words for Craig
Leigh
Andrade - Provides Spoken Words for Rachel
Nicolette
Collard-Andrade - Provides Spoken Words for Annabelle
Tony
Kost - Provides Spoken Words for Coleman Burke
The
Vocal Cast on the album:
Paul
Adrian Villarreal ("Sun Caged") as Owen
Gordon
Tittsworth ("Images Of Eden", "Dread The Forsaken")
as Derrick, Owen & The Narrator
Tilman
Eckelt ("Grailknights")
as
Owen
Cornelius
Kappabani as Owen, Derrick & The Islanders
Jan
Hoving ("Stonefly", "A. Vandenburg") as Owen
Floor
Kraaijvanger ("Superfloor", "Floored") as Annabelle
& The Narrator
Antila
Thomsen as Hannah |
AIRS
January
30, 2012 – Steve Brockmann (“Expected Errors”) and George Andrade (The
Anabasis) to release “AIRS – A ROCK OPERA”, Featuring
Guest Appearances by Paul Adrian Villarreal (Sun Caged), Gordon Tittsworth
(Images of Eden), Dave Meros and Alan Morse (Spock’s Beard)
on Fencesound Music.
“Airs
– A Rock Opera” is packed with 74 minutes of exciting and emotional
music that runs the gamut of rock, metal, blues, pop, gospel and even cinematic
score in a classic rock opera style and comes with a beautifully designed,
24 page lyric book illustrating an engaging narrative story.
Steve
Brockmann, music composer, arranger and producer, is a multi-instrumentalist
who has played an active role in Northern Germany’s music scene since the
early 1980s. Amongst others, he has played support gigs for such rock legends
as Uriah Heep, Moody Marsden Band, and Hawkwind. Steve
currently concentrates his musical work on various projects in his personal
studio. Steve’s releases include “Don’t Sing” (2001), “Broskro Skrobro”
(2002), “Expected Errors” (2007) and the upcoming “Pools Under Ganymede”.
George
Andrade, story, lyrics and narratives, is the lyricist and Executive Producer
for the progressive metal band The Anabasis (10T
Records). He has written adult and children’s fiction, provides
critical readings for screenplays, reviews novels for HorrorNews.net and
is a freelance editor. He is listed in the Locus Magazine author index
and has been an artist-in-residence for Very Special Arts Rhode Island.
He also wrote, produced and directed the short film “Supports’ which won
RI Cable Award for “Best Entertainment/Variety”.
“Airs
– A Rock Opera” by Brockmann/Andrade is available for immediate pre-order
through the official “AIRS” website or at Fencesound Music.
All orders received by February 19 will be entered into a random drawing
for a chance to receive one of fifteen 8.5x11 signed glossy prints of the
AIRS logo and kite detail from the album cover design of Matt Willett and
will be shipped in time to be received as close to the release date as
possible. Also available at your favorite online, digital download, or
retail outlet on 2/29/12.
Teaser
trailers from “Airs – A Rock Opera” are now available to preview
on the Fencesound Music YouTube Channel. Additional trailers and the release
of a single “Annabelle” are soon to follow. Further promotional support
provided by month long radio campaign culminating with World Premiere Event
on AiiRadio, February 28, 2012.
THE
COMPOSERS
|
|
GEORGE
ANDRADE
George
Andrade, story, lyrics and narratives, is the lyricist and Executive Producer
for the progressive metal band The Anabasis (10T
Records).
He
has written adult and children’s fiction, reviewed albums for such progressive
bands as Mars Hollow, Shadow Circus and Relocator,
reviews novels for HorrorNews.net, provides critical readings for screenplays
and is a freelance editor. George is listed in the Locus Magazine author
index and has been an artist-in-residence for Very Special Arts Rhode Island
where he taught screenwriting at Dorcas Place in Providence. He also wrote,
produced and directed the short film “Supports" for Vision Cable in Pawtucket,
RI, which won a RI Cable Award for “Best Entertainment/Variety” in 1992.
George
recently managed the Children's, Teen, Family & Childcare and Education
Department at Barnes & Noble in Middletown, RI.
|
STEVE
BROCKMANN
Steve
Brockmann, music composer, arranger and producer, is a multi-instrumentalist
who has played an active role in Northern Germany’s music scene since the
early 1980s. Amongst others, he has played support gigs for such rock legends
as Uriah Heep, Moody Marsden Band, and Hawkwind. Steve
currently concentrates his musical work on various projects in his personal
studio. Steve’s releases include “Don’t Sing” (2001), “Broskro
Skrobro” (2002), and “Expected Errors” (2007). Steve
has also composed and contributed charity singles for The Haiti Projekt,
a collaborative album of 40 musicians and bands including Neal Morse,
Roine
Stolt, Dave Meros and IZZ ("For You", 2010),
and for Förderkreis für krebskranke Kinder und Jugendliche. e.V.,
a center for young children and teens living with cancer in Northern Germany
("For Those Who Left, For Those Who Came (Christmas Eve)", 2011). |
THE
BAND
Steve
Brockmann
Steve
Brockmann, music composer, arranger and producer, is a multi-instrumentalist
who has played an active role in Northern Germany’s music scene since the
early 1980s. Amongst others, he has played support gigs for such rock legends
as Uriah Heep, Moody Marsden Band, and Hawkwind. Steve
currently concentrates his musical work on various projects in his personal
studio. Steve’s releases include “Don’t Sing” (2001), “Broskro
Skrobro” (2002), and “Expected Errors” (2007). Steve
has also composed and contributed charity singles for The Haiti Projekt,
a collaborative album of 40 musicians and bands including Neal Morse,
Roine
Stolt, Dave Meros and IZZ ("For You", 2010),
and for Förderkreis für krebskranke Kinder und Jugendliche. e.V.,
a center for young children and teens living with cancer in Northern Germany
("For Those Who Left, For Those Who Came (Christmas Eve)", 2011).
Jochen
Ohl
Jochen
Ohl played drums on all the songs except for “Grounded II”. Jo (Jochen)
Ohl from Wittbek, Nordfriesland, Germany, started playing gigs behind the
drum kit at the age of 15. He later played drums for such well known
northern German bands as "Full House" and "Wolfen" (with guitar player
Micky Wolf). Jo was a friend of a friend of Steve’s and now also plays
in a band with his brother “Luppi” - North Band - also available from Fencesound
Music. Jo is known for his "merciless" punch.
Dave
Meros
Dave
Meros plays bass on the songs “Annabelle” and “Flight II”. Dave is best
known as the bass player for the critically acclaimed progressive rock
band Spock's Beard. He has also played with such artists as Gary Myrick,
Bobby
Kimball of Toto, Simon Phillips, Steve Lukather,
Michael
Landau, Glenn Hughes, Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere
and the Raiders, Big Big Train, and has the dubious honor
of having played for Eric Burdon and The Animals for more
consecutive years than any other human (15 years 10 months). He was
also tour manager for many of those years with The Animals and has
worked as a tour manager for other artists as well. As a bassist,
Meros' musical influences are varied, including Paul McCartney,
John
Entwistle, Chris Squire, James Jamerson, Marcus Miller,
Francis
"Rocco" Prestia of Tower of Power, Chuck Rainey and
David
Hungate. Some musical highlights: • Dave began studying classical piano
at age 9, five years formal training. • Studied French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone,
and Tuba between the ages of 13–18. Received the Bank of America award
for musical achievement, 1974. Received the John Phillip Souza Band
Award, 1974. Played in the Reno Jazz Festival All-Star Band, 1974.
• Played bass trombone and tuba in the U.C. Berkeley Jazz Ensemble, 1974–1977.
• Began playing electric bass in 1976 while at U.C. Berkeley. Played professionally
since 1978. Relocated to Los Angeles early 1985. • Played bass and
tour managed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Eric Burdon and The Animals
from January 1990 through November 2005, and toured very extensively worldwide
with various bands since the late '80s. Dave's main creative venture since
1994 has been recording and touring with Spock's Beard, which to date has
released nine full-length studio CDs plus a number of live CDs and EPs,
videos, DVDs, and rarities collections. Their tenth studio album, "X",
was release in May 2010 and another live album, “The X Tour LIVE”, is scheduled
for release on February 13th, 2012.
Alan
Morse
Alan
Morse provided guitar effects and solos for the finale “Flight II”.
Alan is best known as the guitarist and co-founder, along with his brother
recording artist Neal Morse, for the critically acclaimed progressive rock
band Spock's Beard. He is married to Kathryn Morse (Owner/CEO
of Heirloom Wooden Toys) and has two children, Julia and John. Alan has
recorded with many artists including Chad & Jeremy, Spencer
Davis, Neal Morse, and Ryo Okumoto (Spock's Beard
keyboardist). Along with the guitar, he sings and plays the Theremin, the
cello, musical saw, keyboards, drums, bass & bouzouki. Unusual
for a rock guitar player, Morse does not use a pick. His first solo
album, “Four O'Clock & Hysteria”, was released on April
24, 2007 on InsideOut Music. Spock's Beard has released nine full-length
studio CDs plus a number of live CDs and EPs, videos, DVDs, and rarities
collections. Their tenth studio album, "X", was release in
May 2010 and another live album, “The X Tour LIVE”, is scheduled
for release on February 13th, 2012. Alan came up with the name for the
band after a particularly wild party where he remarked to his brother,
"It's almost as if we were in an alternate universe, like that one episode
of Star Trek where Spock had a beard. Wouldn't that be a cool name for
a band? Spock's Beard?" Then, when it came time to choose
a name for the band, Alan made a list of over 100 names and threw “Spock's
Beard” in on the end as a joke … and the band chose it.
Christoph
Luppi Brockmann
Christoph
Brockmann plays bass on the song “The Great Salt Pond”. Christoph "Luppi"
Brockmann from Bredstedt, Northern Germany, began playing bass when he
was 16 years old. He had played some piano and guitar but when the band
of his older brother, Steve Brockmann, needed a bass player he conveniently
changed the instrument! A list of bands that Christoph has played with
throughout the years include: 1984-1986 – “Level B”, 1987 – “Woozy Wizard”,
1989- “TCS”, 1990-1992 – “Seven Sisters”, 1993-1995 – “Heartland (D)”,
1996-1997 - "Electric Fence", 1998-2000 – “Eve's Droppers”, 2004-2005 –
“Steve Brockmann and the Burning Bunch”, 2005 – present – "The North Band".
Christoph’s influences on bass are Steve Harris, Dave Meros, Marcus Miller
and Pino Palladino. Some of his favorite bands are “Spock's Beard”, “Dream
Theater”, “Porcupine Tree” and “The Beatles”.
Phil
Robertson
Phil
Robertson plays the drums on the song “Grounded II”. Phil
has been playing in studios for 24 years, the last 10 or so as a first
call session player and online studio drummer. He has performed on
many albums for Warner, Polygram, Electra, EMI, Atlantic, Sparrow, Reunion
and Word records as well as 1 of 3 drummers on the 2010 Winter Olympics
music and countless jingles and soundtracks. He performed on 3 multimillion
selling NBA games for Electronic Arts and the now world famous Humble Brothers
remix team with their intense soundtracks as well as Need For Speed Hot
Pursuit 2, Motor City USA and The Simpson’s Road Rage. He also played on
the NBA promotional video starring Montell Jordan that went around the
world in 2003, as well as tracking for Holly McNarland, Shari
Ulrich, top Hong Kong star Eason Chan, Serena Ryder,
Juno Award winning tracks for Brian Doerksen and 2 albums for young
guitar virtuoso and sensation Hedra Ramos of Guatemala. Phil has
worked with producer/engineers such as Michael Bienhorn (Chili Peppers),
Chad Kreoger of Nickelback, county music hit writer Brett James,
Bob Rock (Metallica, Motley Crue), Mike Fraser (AC/DC,
Aerosmith),
Dave Pierce (composer and producer for the 2010 Olympics, Broadway and
the Calgary Stampede), Michel Fadel (Nader Guirat), Rhys Fulber
(Delirium, Fear Factory), Hedras Ramos Sr. (Hedras Ramos,
Jr.), Gred Reely (Sarah McLachlan, Delirium), Rolf Hennemann
(Heart, Al Stewart), Bill Henderson (Chilliwack),
Dave Slagter (Klaatu, Rush), Pat Glover (BTO, Paul
Rogers) along with many others. In a live setting he’s backed American
music legend Ray Charles on live television, along with Bryan
Adams, Nelly Furtado, Sara McLachlan, K.D. Lang,
Nikki
Yanofsky and Garou before a live television audience of 3 billion
people as part of the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
2011 also saw Phil recording tracks for the closing ceremonies of the Arab
Games. In other live work, Phil has played with the David Foster Band,
Roger
Hodgson of Supertramp,
Burton Cummings, The Canadian
Tenors, Michael Buble,
Paul Janz and Hong Kong’s Anthony
Lun. He was a founding member of the Juno award winning recording
act Idle Eyes who toured with Bryan Adams, Toto,
Tears
For Fears, Tom Cochrane and Red Rider and Human League.
Phil was also the drummer and anchor for the 40 piece “Calgary Stampede
Grandstand Show” showband from 2004 to 2008 which played to 22,000
people per night as well as Gemni Awards. As a writer, Phil has songs published
in New York, Hong Kong and Nashville. He has written, recorded and produced
music for film and television, and a variety of up-and-coming Canadian
artists. He also recorded, produced and co-wrote the widely acclaimed
guitar instrumental album REZ
featuring Scotty Hall,
which received great press and rave reviews in 2007. |
New
Release
"AIRS
- A Rock Opera"
1.
Now I Know
....I.
Fateful Days
.......(Part
One)
....II.
Grounded
........(Part
One)
....III.
Kites (Part One)
....IV.
Flight (Part One)
2.
Current Events
....I.
Winds of Change
....II.
Heirs
3.
Book of Airs
4.
The Flyer
....I.
Annabelle
....II.
Fateful Days
.......
(Part
Two)
....III.
Hannah
5.
Airs
....I.
Kites (Part Two)
....II.
Grounded
........(Part
Two)
....III.
Flight (Part Two)
....IV.
Owen
AIRS
- A Rock Opera Including 74 minutes with 18 tracks in the 70s/80s Prog
Rock and Metal styles, together in an amazing and incredible story. The
music was writen by Steve Brockmann, who produced the album. The story
texts are from George Andrade ("The Anabasis"). Including a 24 page
booklet.
Well,
to get in contact and any other information about the "AIRS - A Rock
Opera" and musician, or, if you want to order an album, you must visit
and contact
AIRS website.
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