Gongzilla

Gongzilla - Five Even - 2008 - Lolo Records

"Journalist Bill Milkowski called GZ “simply mind-boggling”. The group is a mass of contradictions in perfect balance. Two road-warriors from the ghetto-wasteland of fusion join two powerful young bucks on a quest to capture the essence of pop. Not the “pandering on purpose” pop we are all familiar with but the rigorous, risk taking music of bands like Steely Dan and Meshell Ndegeocello. The new studio record Five Even includes guitarists Chuck Garvey (moe.) and Jake Cinninger (Umphrey's McGee) plus fretless guitarist David "Fuze" Fiuczynski (Screaming Headless Torsos) and bassist Kai Eckhardt (John McLaughlin)! Contradictions and balance; GZ’s quest is to bring us cool songs that singe the soul while balancing hyper precision and rockin’ mayhem." © 2011 Wayside Music http://www.waysidemusic.com/Music-Products/Gongzilla---Five-Even__LOLO021.aspx

For a very long time now, guitarist Bon Lozaga and bassist Hansford Rowe, both best-known for their tenure with Pierre Moerlin's Gong, have been releasing a number of very very good to excellent fusion albums under the name Gongzilla. They always have a few 'big name' guests, and this is no exception. But ultimately, it's Bon's and Hanni's show and they make it all work. This time there are vocals on this one, and I don't see much point in them, except for the fact that maybe this has gotten them on the jam-band circuit, in which case, good for them. In any event, they pass quickly enough and we get back to the playing, which is what this all about. © 2011 Wayside Music http://www.waysidemusic.com/Music-Products/Gongzilla---Five-Even__LOLO021.aspx

Gongzilla (a spin-off of the British Canterbury Scene and sometimes fusion group Gong) create another great work of skilful grooves, deep rhythms, and wonderful masterful interplay between all instruments. Unlike other Gongzilla albums, "Five Even" includes some vocals which never detract from the sound. The album is HR by A.O.O.F.C. Read a good review of this album at AAJ Check out Gongzilla's masterful "Live" album @ GONGZ/LIVE and search this blog for related releases

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1 Say Hey - Rowe
2 French Grass - Lozaga
3 Willy - Rowe, Lozaga
4 American Dream - Rowe
5 Five Even - Rowe
6 When The Water's Gone - Rowe
7 Jersey Pines - Rowe
8 So High - Rowe, Ledonio
9 Jersey Pines (Bis) - Rowe

MUSICIANS

Bon Lozaga - Guitar, Loops, Vocals
Jameison Ledonio - Guitar, Vocals
David Fiuczynski - Fretless Guitar on Tracks 5, 6
Jake Cinninger - Guitar, Nylon Acoustic Guitar on Tracks 4, 7
Chuck Garvey - Slide Guitar on Tracks 2, 3
Hansford Rowe - Bass, Vocals
Kai Eckhardt - Fretless Bass on Tracks 5, 6, 9
Todd Barneson - Mandolin on Tracks 2, 3, & Vocals on Tracks 1, 3, 4, 7
Phil Kester - Drums, Marimba, Percussion
Mitch Hull - Drums on Track 2
Lian Amber - Vocals on Tracks 1, 6, 7

BIO

Another branch in the Gong family tree, Gongzilla was a reassembly of several of the members of early Pierre Moerlin's Gong and played a similar style jazz-rock fusion. Formed in 1994 by guitarist Ben Lozaga and bassist Hansford Rowe, the group was rounded out by guitarist Allan Holdsworth, percussionist Bobby Thomas Jr., and vibraphonist Beniot Moerlen. They released Suffer in 1995, which found the band exploring some more hard rock stylings than Piere Moerlin's Gong. The album was ranked the number three fusion album of the year by Pulse!. Thrive followed in 1996 which added drummer Gary Husband and guitarist David Torn to the mix while featuring Rowe on vocals. © Geoff Orens © 2010 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll