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| On June 7, 2005 Midlantic Records Releases Citizen Zen from New York Electric Piano On June 7, 2005 Midlantic Records will release, Citizen Zen, the second recording from New York Electric Piano, featuring Pat Daugherty on Fender Rhodes, Tim Givens on double bass and Aaron Comess, founding member of The Spin Doctors, on drums. Citizen Zen, the follow up recording to the band’s self-titled debut album, showcases twelve new Daugherty compositions and funky, groovy, jovial and virtuosic interpretations from the trio. Since releasing their eponymous debut, New York Electric Piano has enjoyed performances at the now defunct Fez , a stellar gig at Double Happiness, playing a party in honor of David Bowie’s band; Bowie himself sitting next to the band and nodding approvingly. NYEP also more than held their own at a sold out Sin-E show on a bill with experimental rockers Oh My God and Dare Diablo. Ani DiFranco’s horn section digs New York Electric Piano so much they brought Daugherty and Aaron Comess in to play on and produce their side project, “Whatsa.” The birth of New York Electric Piano occurred after September 11, 2001, when the NYPD & NYFD were on many New Yorkers’ hearts and minds. Dealing with the tragedy in his own way, the idea came to Pat Daugherty to form New York Electric Piano, or NYEP; a trio with the venerable Fender Rhodes in the lead role. The first unofficial meeting of NYEP was on the job. “I was music director for a show at Joe’s Pub,” Daugherty explains, “and Tim and Aaron were on the gig. They asked the band to do a tune to warm up the crowd. I had just written “Democrazy.” We played it and the crowd flipped.” Daugherty had found his trio and NYEP was born. Their first recording was released in 2004 to critical acclaim. Bill Milkowski has said of NYEP, “From start to finish, this highly interactive trio grooves with crackling intensity and a rare degree of group think.” Allaboutjazz.com added, “On keyboards is Pat Daugherty, who does not merely play the electric piano, but takes you on a sonic tour of the sounds that the Rhodes is capable of producing. He even uses a “lead and rhythm electric piano” approach on some songs. Drummer Aaron Comess and bassist Tim Givens, who provide very tight support and intuitive/solid playing, round out the band.” The New York Times said that “Pat Daugherty is an imposing presence.” Cadence Magazine added, “This very tight band really stokes my jones for the Fender Rhodes. Trio jazz filtered through post-Fusion sensibility, the writing is attractive, with plenty of respect for the tonal color of the Rhodes, and a healthy feel for texture and space.” Pat Daugherty, the band’s pianist and composer, has felt an allegiance to the Fender Rhodes ever since he took one out on tour with Gil Scott-Heron in 1984. He feels the Rhodes is a unique instrument that’s still reaching its potential. A songwriter as well as a player, his first NY band featured Kurt Rosenwinkel on bass. Pat’s day gig isn’t bad either; as touring pianist with the Martha Graham Dance Company he serves up avant-garde classics and Scott Joplin rags, prompting Dance Insider.com to say, “Daugherty seduces the music out of the piano.” In addition to leading New York Electric Piano, Daugherty recently premiered a solo piano composition “Divinations” with the Dance Company at the Kennedy Center. In Los Angeles this January, Daugherty filmed a DVD with legendary Lollapalooza painter Norton Wisdom at Terraplane Studios. 2004 found the pianist collaborating with LA producer Tommy D on a track that ended up on Snoop Dogg’s 213 CD release. In May he’ll be working with the Imani Winds at the Virginia Arts Festival on a new composition entitled Five Flames. Opera diva and Higher Octave artist Sasha Lazard is also recording two of Pat’s songs on her upcoming release. Drummer Aaron Comess’ grooves send New York Electric Piano into orbit. Comess just finished recording the Spin Doctors first album after a long hiatus; he is an original member of the band and a monstrous figure on the jam band scene. Comess, a drummer that learned to groove from none other than Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, has performed and recorded with Mike Stern, Roy Hargrove, Aaron Neville, Vernon Reid, and Blues Traveler among many others. He recently played on RCA artist Rachel Yamagata’s debut release and toured the US with her. Last year Aaron and Pat Daugherty produced and played on Deanna Kirk’s Beautyway CD, a record that found its way onto a feature film, “Down To You,” and the hit TV show, “Felicity.” Tim Givens, the upright bassist who gives New York Electric Piano its gravitational pull and forward momentum simultaneously, grew up working in his dad’s California music store. Tim stellar resume includes performing and recording with the likes of Lou Donaldson, Ray Bryant, The Village Vanguard Orchestra, Curtis Fuller and Herman Foster. He recently chaired the bass spot for The Jazz Standard’s weeklong Hank Mobley tribute. write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |