KNEEDELUS,
A Collaboration Between Kneebody + Daedelus,
Expands the Pantheon of Instrumental Music
Eponymous Debut Available November 27 via Brainfeeder
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The
theory of technological singularity - the notion that humans and
computer technology will increasingly blend together - has been explored
in many forms of popular culture since it's conception. Over the past
two decades, there has been a larger movement to integrate electronic
artists and jazz musicians, often leaving the former as more of a sonic
addendum (floating over the music) rather than an integrated part of the
ensemble. Tasked with exploring a deeper synthesis of electronic and
acoustic players, instrumental quintet Kneebody's collaboration with electronic musician Daedelus in turn creates a true union of these disparate approaches to music and genre as a whole.
The collaboration between Kneebody - keyboardist Adam Benjamin, trumpeter Shane Endsley, electric bassist Kaveh Rastegar, saxophonist Ben Wendel and drummer Nate Wood - and Daedelus had its initial roots planted as far back as high school for old friends Wendel and Alfred Darlington (aka
Daedelus). "Often when I lived in LA, I would go to practice saxophone
at Alfred's house in the bathroom next to his studio. He would knock on
the bathroom door and say 'Would you mind playing something on this
track?'," recalls Wendel. "So I ended up being on at least five or six
of Alfred's albums because I happened to be there practicing. "
The
pair's early musical kinship in southern California seeded a connection
that grew through numerous collaborations, recordings and live
performances over the years, coming to fruition in an improvised
performance in 2009 at "Jazz A Vienne" between their two primary music
vehicles. When Wendel was awarded a composition grant through Chamber
Music America based on the theory of technological singularity, it
became a catalyst to write a series of pieces that would bridge the gap
between the oft-indescribable world of Kneebody and the unique aesthetic of Daedelus.
When
the quintet entered the studio with Darlington, the other members
brought more compositions to the fore. "Ben approached me about trying
to realize some of this music that was maybe different from the Kneebody
spectacular - where they are always so through-composed - and do
something that was more intimate," reflects Darlington. The result is a
ten-song set of original music that sits inside the rich pantheon of
instrumental music, but with a modern sheen that takes the shape of a
multi-headed beast straddling rock, jazz, and electronic music.
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Photo Credit: Chris Clinton
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About Kneebody:
Grammy®
Award-nominated quintet Kneebody generates explosive rock energy
paralleled with high-level chamber ensemble playing, and highly wrought
compositions balanced with adventurous no-holds-barred improvising. All
"sounds-like" references can be set aside as the band has created a
genre and style all its own. Each band member has amassed an impressive
list of credits and accomplishments over the years while continuing to
thrive and grow in reputation, solidifying a fan base around the world.
"One of the smarter bands blenderizing postbop, indie rock,
hip-hop and classical music."
- The New York Times
About Daedelus:
Like
his mythological namesake, Daedelus is an inventor, a creator of sonic
labyrinths. He recombines sounds from an eclectic palette into an
innovative genre all his own. Otherwise known as Alfred Darlington, the
Los Angeles producer has over two-dozen releases on a variety of labels
and collaborates with musicians in many worlds: electronic, jazz,
hip-hop, etc. His music runs the gamut of emotion, alternately intense
and mellow, exuberant and melancholy, danceable and introspective.
Daedelus has performed over a thousand shows for audiences on five
continents, everywhere from Iceland to Istanbul. He is a founding father
of the LA "Beat Scene," often playing the storied Low End Theory club
nights. Each live show is unique, employing Monome controllers and
open-source software, which allows for on-the-fly improvisation. The
backdrop onstage is Daedelus' collaborative invention Archimedes, a
robotic array of moving mirrors that reacts to and reflects the
performance.
"...a dense heap of familiar, pleasing sounds with beguiling dance appeal." - Pitchfork
Kneebody + Daedelus · Kneedelus
Brainfeeder Records · Release Date: November 27, 2015
For more information on Kneebody, please visit: Kneebody.com
For more information on Daedelus, please visit: DaedelusMusic.com
For more information on Brainfeeder, please visit: Brainfeedersite.com
For media information, please contact:
DL Media · 610-667-0501
Matthew Jurasek · matthew@dlmediamusic.com
Maureen McFadden · maureen@dlmediamusic.com
Don Lucoff · don@dlmediamusic.com
Serving the Finest in Jazz Since 1988
Information and press materials (including album covers, promotional photos
and bios) on all DL Media artists can be found at our website: dlmediamusic.com
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