We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you this recent discovery (thank you Blabbermouth). It’s likely that the news will mean nothing to anyone reading this except the real old-timers, but for those of you as ancient as I am, it will definitely mean something. And those less ancient might learn a thing or two along the way. By the way, the music isn’t metal, but . . . it’s metal. If you know what I mean.
The news concerns a band called Spectrum Road. The members of Spectrum Road include some genuinely legendary figures — Jack Bruce, one of the founding members of Cream (along with Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker), a hugely influential songwriter, and a widely respected classical, jazz, and Latin musician; and Vernon Reid, the founder and principal songwriter of Living Colour and (among many other recognitions), the holder of the #66 position on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
The band also includes drummer Cindy Blackman-Santana, who was the drummer for Lenny Kravitz’s band for 14 years and an accomplished jazz drummer as well as rock musician (she’s also married to Carlos Santana), and John Medeski, a jazz keyboardist involved in many projects, but principally a groove-oriented jazz trio called Medeski Martin & Wood.
For me, Jack Bruce and Vernon Reid are the real draws for this project. After the jump, there’s a video of Spectrum Road performing live. Just watching Bruce and Reid perform together is amazing — and fuck, Vernon Reid can still really shred. The icing on the cake, though, is Cindy Blackman-Santana; it’s a kick to watch her tear it up on the drums. Spectrum Road will be releasing a self-titled debut album on June 5 via Palmetto Records.
9 Responses to “SPECTRUM ROAD”
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I’m older than you. And damn, that thing ripped. Jack Bruce looks like Bill Nighy’s brother 🙂
Thank you for making me feel less alone. And less ancient.
I’m under 30, but I love Cream. Seems like an interesting collaboration and the song was pretty cool.
Definitely will check this out, thanks for the heads up 🙂
I’m 19, and this means a hell of a lot to me! You had my attention from the name “Jack Bruce”. Damn, that’s good! I must have more
Man, it’s cool to know that guys like you and Kazz up there know who Jack Bruce and Cream are. For a band who were only together for two years more than four decades ago, they sure as hell had an impact. And the shit STILL sounds awesome:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=becWr0vc6cA
That live version of Crossroads is pure greatness. For Clapton alone though, I am partial to this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX5USg8_1gA
Not only is Cream’s music awesome (White Room is among my favorite songs ever) but it’s impossible not to realize how much influence they’ve had on future bands. Plus, Ginger Baker played drums on Masters of Reality’s excellent second album. They’re one of my favorite more recent rock bands, although they’ve been going since at least ’88.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC-d2O7K4ug
And some liveness, with Ginger on drums.