“This is an album that should be heard.”
Lovely surprise earlier this week – our album #witchcraftjazz got a great little review in The Progressive Aspect.
Spot on! Cheers Jez Rowden et al!
Tag: MetaQuorum
0 Witchcraft Jazz reviewed in Progressive Aspect
0 LIMPING MATHEMATICIAN – March track of the Month
http://metaquorum.bandcamp.com/track/limping-mathematician
Our next #trackofthemonth is Limping Mathematician. Dmitry Ermakov wrote this tune in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, in 1988 for “Pereplanirovka”, first album of the band ПАNIKA where he played together with Victor Mikheyev and R.I.P. Alexei Dovshan. That version was recorded in Victor flats on reel-to-reel double deca constructed by Victor from two Soviet recorders. We had no drums so used actual tape loops. Instruments we had in our disposal were also… hm… Soviet or home-made so the sound was quite heavy, the steel saxophone I played on the recording was certainly meant for #heavymetal ))) Anyhow, we did what we did our best according to the circumstances. Victor even played #sitar in the middle section of that version of the track. Then many years later I dug up the original score (well… it isn’t a score as you can see on the pic below – just a line with harmonies) and thought we can rearrange and rerecord this tune for our second album, Witchcraft Jazz, cos Carol liked it a lot! So we did. I’ve just finished the track’s cover today. So here it is – #checkitout
3 1-2-3… celebrating 1st anniversary of the 2nd album
1-2-3… celebrating 1st anniversary of the 2nd album – gearing up for Number 3!
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6oeC0Cjkvo3YnPB5on1Mkh
Bandcamp: https://metaquorum.bandcamp.com/album/witchcraft-jazz
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/metaquorum/sets/witchcraft-jazz
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/album/56017492
and everywhere else 😉
2 All About Jazz and Blues Interview with Dmitry Ermakov
All About Jazz and Blues has published an interview with Dmitry Ermakov today. The Story of the Day at the same site is Miles Davis - so we are chuffed by this coincidence :)
All About Jazz and Blues has published an interview with Dmitry Ermakov today. The Story of the Day at the same site is Miles Davis – so we are chuffed by this coincidence 🙂 Miles says: “We’re not going to play the blues anymore. Let the white folks play the blues. They got ’em, so they can keep ’em.” Well, thanks, Miles – we’ll keep it up :))) Follow the link to read the interview. Listen to MetaQuorum to keep cool and, also, drink loads of liquid to stay hydrated in this heatwave 😉
Follow the link below to read the interview:
http://jazzbluesnews.space/2018/07/26/dmitry-ermakov/
0 Good review scores for Witchcraft Jazz
In the last couple of weeks MetaQuorum was getting some good reviews in various music magz.
For example, Andrew Howlie of The Pop Break gave Witchcraft Jazz 10 out of 10!
“After listening all the way through, I can’t wait to start again. It’s a dynamite record full of refreshing sounds, melodies, and textures. If you’re into outside-the-box instrumental music with a heavy dose of futuristic improvisation and a mind-melting sound, Witchcraft Jazz is for you.” Full review @ https://thepopbreak.com/2018/04/10/review/
And André de Boer wrote in Dutch Progressive Rock Page – DPRP.net:
“This Witchcraft Jazz album of MetaQuorum is an hour of amazingly crafted tunes in ever changing positive cheer up moods and very addictive. If you think this is not your music, I recommend to listen anyway right now. And if you like #snarkypuppy then I recommend you to listen too! This album is a real must in the jazz rock genre. Highly recommended.” Score 8.5 out of 10. Issue 2018-029 Published: Sunday 6 May 2018 @ http://www.dprp.net/reviews/2018-029
Also, we recently made friends with Warren, owner of Newcastle-upon-Tyne‘s great Hoochie Coochie Dance Club dedicated to soul, funk, jazz & disco. Looking forward to gigging there one day, meantime you can enjoy some Witchcraft Jazz with your evening cocktails when you visit the bar 😉
0 Witchcraft Jazz Full Album Teaser
Our second album – WITCHCRAFT JAZZ – is now available for PRE-ORDER @ https://goo.gl/KdmgC6 Check it out!
LIMITED EDITION DOUBLE LP VINYL+FREE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
Offer ends 22 Feb 2018 so be quick 😉
Format : 2 x LP 12″ (140g) 33 RPM
Outer Sleeve & Label: Colour
Print finish: Gloss varnish
Genres : Prog Rock, Fusion, Jazz-Funk
Country : United Kingdom
Includes: Digital Download on DIGITAL RELEASE Date: 22/02/2018
WITCHCRAFT JAZZ – a 12 track double LP from ground-breaking international music project MetaQuorum, an upbeat ride through prog, rock, funk, fusion, electronica, acid jazz and more.
Creatively composed, with original scores, grooves and riffs infused with spontaneous improvisation and funk jams, fused into a seamless meld polished with state-of-the-art production techniques, and skilfully mastered at SugarHill Studios, Houston, to bring you an album full of cool swing, hot funk and spicy rhythm.
Witchcraft Jazz – a breath of fresh air for 2018!
“Their debut album [Midnight Sun, 2015] is a splendid amalgamation of styles, featuring cosmic jazz rushes, cocktail hour riffs and psyched synths. It’s not afraid to get its funk on either and if you can imagine Herbie Hancock getting ready for a big night out – browsing through his wardrobe, wanting to look sharp – then this is what he’s playing to put him in the mood.”
The Crack, April 2015 issue: goo.gl/Z5MNbo
Track List:
Digital Release Date: 22/02/2018
А1. Crimson Dreams 5:13
Genre: Prog/Electronic Rock
А2. Jonathan vingston 3:46
Genre: Prog/Reggae Fusion/Experimental
А3. Socket Swing 3:22
Genre: Swing/Funk Jazz/Acid Jazz
А4. The Bartender 5:06
Genre: Cool / Funk-Jazz / Prog
B1. Swagger 6:19
Genre: Funk-Jazz / Prog
B2. Seven Dwarfs Rock 4:25
Genre: Prog / Funk-Jazz
B3. Witchcraft Jazz 6:11
Genre: Prog / Funk-Jazz /Modal Jazz
C1. Limping Mathematician 4:27
Genre: Prog / Funk-Jazz /Acid Jazz
C2. Parallax 9:52
Genre: Prog / Jazz-Fusion / Electronic Rock
D1. Chicken & Egg 3:45
Genre: Prog-Rock / Jazz Fusion
D2. Autumn Groove 4:04
Genre: Prog / Funk-Jazz / Electronic
D3. Goldfinch Charm 3:59
Genre: Prog / Soul-Jazz / Electronic
Album CAT. № MQN013
Album UPC: 5056052738496
Follow MetaQuorum:
http://metaquorum.uk
2 Loads of Good News ;)
Hi folks
Lots of good news, where shall we start?
Well, Koos and Dmitry have managed to snatch time in their busy schedules to finish mixing two tracks for the new album: Socket Swing, and Swagger. We’ve just got the masters back from Chris Longwood of SugarHill Recording Studios – he’s worked his magic – great results!
So that means we’re one step nearer to our NEW ALBUM – WITCHCRAFT JAZZ. It’s going to be another great album, and we’re especially pleased that Victor Mikheyev is joining us again on bass, for three tracks.
And last but not least, to give you a taster of the album, new single CHICKEN & EGG will be released on October 27.
This video footage is from the first Low Bishopley Sessions, February 2015, when Dmitry and Koos were selecting tracks for recording and production. Here, Dmitry improvises around the main theme from Chicken & Egg and discusses how it could be developed. Actually, it took quite a different turn in the end…
Above is some early archive VIDEO material for CHICKEN & EGG, new single from MetaQuorum’s forthcoming album WITCHCRAFT JAZZ.
Cover art by Dmitry’s old and dear friend Petrovich, known in the West as Alexander Voitsekhovsky.
You can join us for an on-line event @ https://www.facebook.com/events/336231016728740/
Cheers, folks! Have a great weekend everyone!
MetaQuorum Team
2 Something to take your minds off Brexit or… CYBER FUNK IS LIVE!
The latest in our volley of new singles, Cyber Funk. Here’s what Dmitry has to say about it:
“I was curious to see how we could fuse some elements of IDM dance music into our meld style – although I don’t listen to IDM much, I do like some stuff, so for this track we used an IDM-like drum sequencer for the first few bars, alternating it with Koos live on his Roland V-drums kit. Fun!
And of course, we love our funk, so Cyber Funk is partly a tribute to George Duke and his fantastic instrumental funk.
And we called it Cyber Funk because, well, it’s a cybernetic sound!” 😉
We had some technical trouble with this one, but rather than bore you with the details, we wanted to share our ‘eureka moment’ with you 😉 (Thanks for capturing it on film, Carol!)
And you can listen to the finished product here:
STREAM:
Spotify: https://goo.gl/Fru2y6
Tidal: https://listen.tidal.com/album/60950721
Microsoft Groove: https://goo.gl/npoGQF
YouTube: https://goo.gl/2cUVUD
Rhapsofy: http://goo.gl/Kp4gCs
Shazam: http://www.shazam.com/track/319822089/cyber-funk
Deezer: http://www.deezer.com/album/13181292
DOWNLOAD:
Greedbag: https://goo.gl/jlqQB1
iTunes: https://goo.gl/USlXkT
Google Play: https://goo.gl/xsYlim
Bandcamp: https://goo.gl/HTBmXR
Amazon: https://goo.gl/WGtB6n
Digital Tunes: https://www.digital-tunes.net/releases/cyber_funk
Juke: http://goo.gl/kWByLb
Junodownload: http://goo.gl/q3p779
Medianet: http://goo.gl/pwkWd7
Gobuz: http://goo.gl/9qe2n0
Roaring dance sequencers and G-Funk leads combined with jazzy piano improvisation, slap and Boogie synth bass, strong, upbeat drums, Go-go percussion and Electro Funk vocoder – Cyber Funk is a rollicking Funk Jam piece, an unusual meld of several styles and beats.
Release Date: 28/06/2016
Time: 5:01
Written and arranged by Dmitry Ermakov.
Keyboards, synth and key bass, vocoder vocals – Dmitry Ermakov.
Drums, audio-engineering – Koos van der Velde.
Recorded, produced and mixed by Dmitry Ermakov & Koos van der Velde @ Low Bishopley Studio & Market Place Studio, Weardale, UK.
Mastered by Chris Longwood @ SugarHill Recording Studios, Houston, TX, USA.
Cover art by Dmitry Ermakov.
© Dmitry Ermakov, 2016.
℗ Dmitry Ermakov & Koos van der Velde, 2016.
UPC: 5056052738458
ISRC: UK-682-16-24114
CAT N.: MQN008
Hope all this has cheered you up!
We’ve got one more track in the pipeline, out next month, so we’ll be in touch again soon.
Meantime, stay well!
Carol, Koos & Dmitry
0 The Piper & The Frog – NUMBER 3 IS HERE!!
OUR THIRD TRACK IS OUT NOW!
An electrifying track with a hip hop beat, some snazzy effects and a funky vibe, The Piper and The Frog takes us from Celtic pipes through tropical frogs to a soaring crescendo as guest artist Markus ‘Bluesharp’ Bossert from Basel,Switzerland, carries us away with his bluesy solo on the harmonica. The Piper and The Frog – an IDM/Hip-Hop/Funk/Prog crossover with a sense humour.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Koos and Dmitry worked on producing the track in the Low Bishopley Home Studio last spring. The biggest challenge was trying to fit the original recording – an MP3 recorded on a stereo mike from the speakers, made back in 2000 – to the new grid to even out the rhythm.
We’d not worked with a guest musician before – Markus sent several versions of his solo over from Switzerland so we had to pick the best and join them together to make a smooth, seamless track.
THE TRACK
The Piper and The Frog is an electrifying track with a hip hop beat, some snazzy effects and a funky vibe. It takes us from Celtic pipes through tropical frogs to a soaring crescendo as guest artist Markus Bluesharp carries us away with his bluesy solo on the harmonica.
STREAM:
Spotify: https://goo.gl/SGknv9
Tidal: http://listen.tidal.com/album/60135741
Microsfot Groove: https://goo.gl/GnCgPh
Google Play: https://goo.gl/07cosG
Bandcamp: https://goo.gl/phIzM0
YouTube: https://youtu.be/aw90JzNLzA0
Rhapsody: http://goo.gl/IUBJ7F
DOWNLOAD:
MQ Shop: https://goo.gl/2LkUvL
iTunes: https://goo.gl/uBYzB6
Amazon: https://goo.gl/MJdd35
Digital Tunes: https://www.digital-tunes.net/releases/the_piper_the_frog
JUKE: http://goo.gl/iawH9b
Junodownload: http://goo.gl/RcCqpl
Medianet: http://goo.gl/QLQXWa
Gobuz: http://goo.gl/fa8jjv
Genres (iTunes): Main Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap: Hip-Hop; Alternate Genre: Electronic: IDM/Experimental
Genres (MQ definition): Meld: Funk/Prog-Rock/Jazz/Electronica/Hip-Hop – Fusion
Release Date: 12/06/2016
Time: 5:09
Written and arranged by Dmitry Ermakov.
Keyboards, synth and key bass – Dmitry Ermakov.
Drums, audio-engineering – Koos van der Velde.
Featuring Markus ‘Bluesharp’ Bossert – harmonica.
Recorded, produced and mixed by Dmitry Ermakov & Koos van der Velde @ Low Bishopley Studio & Market Place Studio, Weardale, UK.
Mastered by Chris Longwood @ SugarHill Recording Studios, Houston, TX, USA.
Cover art by Dmitry Ermakov.
© Dmitry Ermakov, 2016.
℗ Dmitry Ermakov & Koos van der Velde, 2016.
UPC: 5056052738434
ISRC: UK-682-162-4103
CAT N.: MQN005
MetaQuorum 