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The Steve Kimock Band's new release, East Meets West, captures guitarist Steve Kimock and drummer Rodney Holmes' cutting-edge collaboration; a celebration of music from east to west and back again! Also featuring Mitch Stein on guitar, this new double live album highlights multi-track recordings from the New Years Run 2001 at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, with Alphonso Johnson on bass, and more music from Yokohama, Japan, recorded at Bay Hall during SKB's epic run in November 2001. East Meets West runs well over two hours with 10 original instrumentals including Holmes favorites Moon People and Sabertooth and Kimock's brilliant High & Lonesome, Africa, Elmer's Revenge, Avalon and more! Steve Kimock's distinguished musical experiences have offered him plenty of opportunity to create his own unique sound. His current muse, the Steve Kimock Band, is an unmistakable expression of his independent style. More alive than ever is Kimock's reputation for playing fat-toned guitar with unparalleled texture and inspiration. Yet with SKB, Kimock explores an edgier and more innovative aspect of his art, and in doing so is creating a whole new musical vocabulary. Offering an uncompromising hybrid of original music, the Steve Kimock Band fuses melodic masterpieces, obscure country and slide guitar, electronic, jazz, and powerful rock styles, in an instrumental small band improvisational format. SKB is testament that music truly has no boundaries. Featuring drummer extraordinaire Rodney Holmes, bassist Alphonso Johnson, and guitarist Mitch Stein, the member's of SKB perfectly merge on stage. Without hardly any movement, the quartet shapes bold, soaring sounds that conjure images of dynamic science fiction landscapes. Even the groove heavy Holmes sustains a mysterious, graceful tension while he wails on the drums with precision and power. Certainly, Kimock's recent pairing with Rodney Holmes (the two met in the year 2000) is proving to be a significant adventure in Kimock's musical odyssey. Exhibiting inherent talent, commitment to continuous musical evolution, and a vividly modern approach to the pursuit of sound, Kimock has only just begun to explore the depths of SKB. INDIVIDUAL BIOS Steve Kimock: Performing nationally for more than 25 years, this self-taught innovator, started his musical career in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania when he was about twelve years old, influenced by his Aunt Dotti, a folk singer, and his guitar playing cousin, Kenny. In the mid 70's Kimock moved to the Bay Area with the Goodman Brothers and set up shop. It was at this time that he really started to develop his carefree style of innovative guitar improvisation as well as a lifetime of musical associations, jamming with such legends as John Cipollina, Nicky Hopkins, John Kahn and Jerry Garcia, who hailed Kimock as his "favorite unknown guitar player" shortly before his death. After a stint with Martin Fierro in the salsa band the Underdogs, in 1979 Kimock joined the Heart of Gold Band with Keith and Donna Godchaux. In 1984, Kimock co-founded the band Zero with drummer Greg Anton and co-produced six albums with this band over 16 years, touring nationally while leading the band with his mesmerizing guitar. His solo group, Steve Kimock & Friends, which also included Zero band members Martin Fierro and Chip Roland, also played frequently in the 80's and 90's, and produced an independent album: Steve Kimock & Friends. During his tenure with Zero, Kimock also joined forces with Jerry Joseph in Little Women; with Bob Weir in Kingfish; with Vince Welnick in Missing Man Formation; and played frequently with Merl Saunders-- to name a few. In early 1998, Kimock and Vega got together with Zappa alumnus Ray White and drummer Alan Hertz to form KVHW, a band that blazed around the country for two years receiving rave reviews; however, unfortunate circumstances led to a break-up. In the summer of 1998, Kimock also began playing with The Other Ones on the Further Festival and shared the stage with surviving Grateful Dead members and Bruce Hornsby, Dave Ellis and Mark Karan. Kimock was the signature guitar player for most of the Phil & Friends shows in 1998 and 1999 playing with John Molo, Warren Haynes, Trey Anastasio and Page McConnell among others. Steve also joined The Other Ones on the Furthur Festival in August/September 2000, but now concentrates on SKB and other interesting projects. He has recorded albums with: Bruce Hornsby (coming out in June 2002), Henry Kaiser (Psychedelic Guitar Circus, Everybody Slides), Harvey Mandel, Freddy Roulette, Merl Saunders, Vince Welnick (Missing Man Formation), Bob Weir (Kingfish), The Other Ones (The Strange Remain), Pete Sears, Bobby Vega (Down the Road), and many other headliners. When not on the road, one could find Kimock tinkering with his gear from amps to speakers to his arsenal of vintage and original guitars...always working on his brilliant tone and sweet sound. He continues to be active in the musical instrument manufacturing field. Kimock's guitar sound and playing incorporate a diversity seldom heard in rock today, and he has proved many times over that he is an ever-changing constant in the universe of creative thought and composition. Rodney Holmes: Inspired by a home life filled with music, Rodney Holmes took up the drums when joining the junior band in the 4th grade. By the time he reached high school in Westchester, New York, he'd already decided to become a professional musician. When he graduated, although he'd earned a music scholarship to Long Island University he chose to go out on his own. And influenced by the likes of such great jazz drummers as Max Roach, Art Blakey, Kenny Clark, and Tony Williams, as well as drummers like Billy Cobham, Steve Gadd, and John Bonham of Led Zeppelin; Holmes began getting jazz gigs and recording sessions. Although he was not part of the inner circle in the New York music scene, Holmes' talent soon caught the attention of keyboardist, composer and musical visionary, Clyde Criner, who taught at LIU and the New England Conservatory. Dr. Criner took Rodney under his wing and put together a group featuring the young drummer. It was as if Holmes just fell out of the sky. The group recorded two albums, [Clyde Criner-Behind the Sun] and [The Color of Dark] on RCA/Novus before Criner passed away. Dr. Clyde Criner left an incredible impression on Rodney that was both musical as well as personal. Rodney wanted to keep Criner's progressive and innovative spirit alive. After his stint with Criner, Holmes met and worked with Jean Paul Bourelly and Victor Bailey, and then joined the group, Special EFX, for two years. With his own taste in jazz evolving toward more open music, Holmes then became a part of the Zawinul Syndicate with Keyboardist Joe Zawinul. It was also around this time that he was introduced to a Guitar player named Mitch Stein. This meeting would later turn into the foundation of a very unique electric trio called the Hermanators. It was while on tour with Zawinul that Holmes ran into Carlos Santana in a hotel. Santana had known about Holmes through Criner and the two decided that they'd play together at some point. And it wasn't long before Rodney received an invitation to join the Santana Band for the 1993 tour with Bob Dylan. Holmes stayed with Santana through the end of the 1993 tour and credits the experience with giving him greater perspective on performing in rock venues to larger audiences. However, he had some other offers and other areas in jazz that he wanted to pursue. So, he joined the Brecker Brothers (performing on their 1994 Grammy winning album, Out of the Loop, and the song, "African Skies"). From that point, Holmes toured extensively with the Brecker Brothers for two years. Holmes also went on to perform/record with Steps Ahead, the incredible Wayne Shorter, Larry and Julian Coryell, Victor Bailey, Leni Stern, and New York guitartist, David Gilmore. Rodney Also went on to tour and record with Santana from 1997 to June of 2000. Playing on the mega hit single "Smooth" with Rob Thomas of Match Box 20, Rodney Holmes is also a multi Grammy winner. Currently, Holmes is pursuing new musical and artistic goals with his own music, as well as with other amazing artists. He will be touring with the Steve Kimock Band in December 2000 and beyond. Mitch Stein: Mitch Stein, the son of a classical pianist and a jazz trumpeter, was introduced to the guitar at age 13. Profoundly influenced by the Beatles, he learned to play the drums four years earlier. By 15, Mitch was studying guitar with studio great Allen Hanlon in NYC. Although still primarily playing rock, he was schooled in both the jazz and classical genres, giving him a diverse and solid musical foundation. While in college, he studied classical guitar and spent one summer at the prestigious Aspen Music Festival. When he returned to NYC, Mitch devoted himself to the study of jazz guitar with Rich Boukas, Jack Wilkins and the great John Scofield. In 1982, legendary organist Brother Jack McDuff, who has nurtured many renowned guitar players including George Benson, Pat Martino, and Grant Green, took Mitch under his wing. Mitch toured with him for one year and recorded two records. To date, he has frequented the contemporary jazz circuit with David Sanborn and Tania Maria, including a quartet tour of Europe with Steve Gadd and Anthony Jackson. Roberta Flack, Cyndi Lauper, Adam Holzman, Nelson Rangell, Mino Cinelu, Jody Watley, Stone Alliance with Don Alias and Gene Perla, Chaka Khan, George Benson and Victor Bailey, among others, complete the broad spectrum of artists within Mitch's repertoire. Mitch has recorded several widely distributed jingles, including spots for Coke Classic, Toyota and Certs. He has also appeared in a Japanese commercial for Seven Star Cigarettes. Mitch endorses LaBella strings, Samson Audio products and Akira Ohya guitars. Mitch is the Founder, leader and main songwriter for the original band THE HERMANATORS, which features drummer Rodney Holmes and bassist Kip Reed. He also is currently playing with Rodney in the Steve Kimock Band. Alphonso Johnson Internationally acclaimed Bassist and Chapman Stick artist Alphonso Johnson has accumulated numerous performing, recording, teaching, producing, composing and publishing credits during his illustrious career. His touring and recording credits read like a "Who's Who" of jazz and fusion, and he is considered one of the top performers in the world on his instrument... FOR MORE INFO VISIT WWW.KIMOCK.COM Check out the artist's website: http://www.kimock.com Track List: 1. High & Lonesome 2. Africa 3. Moon People 4. Sabertooth 5. Elmer's Revenge 6. (disc 2) Ice Cream 7. Long Form Part I 8. Long Form Part IV 9. In Reply> 10. Avalon Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
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