Percy Jones - Percy Jones, Alex Skolnick, Kenny Grohowski, Tim Motzer '2021

Tracks list

Tracklist:

1. Emergence (12:23)
2. Over Strange Lands (07:49)
3. The Mystery (12:47)
4. The Unsilence (06:18)
5. Brothers of Energy (09:59)
6. Perserverance (08:05)
7. The Sacred Ladder (07:25)
8. Alignments (11:43)
9. Night Crossings (06:12)
10. The Great Spirit (10:24)
11. Departure Sanctuary (07:37)
12. Cosmic Fire (05:15)


 moreBut there was plenty of electricity, running through the instruments and
between the musicians. Odd to play six feet apart and masked, certainly, but not
enough to dampen the joy of playing live music together for the first time in
months. They played two sets, each about 50 minutes long, and the album version
presents the music with very little editing. The first set began with gentle
interweaving guitars (Alex Skolnick on electric, Tim Motzer on
acoustic-electric) joined initially by Percy Jones’ fretless bass and
cymbal washes from drummer Kenny Grohowski.

Before long they locked into a groove and Skolnick took his first solo, a
keening melodic excursion. As the set went on there was also space for an
abstract soundscape with sampled news voices, scraping guitar noises, and
Motzer's bowed guitar; a big Skolnick solo with overdrive and harmonizer (and
his trademark speed); and Motzer's solid-body guitar solo (switching from the
acoustic-electric he favored most of the time) with wild whammy effects. Above
all else there was a great sense of flow, which included dynamic contrast. At
full force this band is formidable, but they could whisper too.

The second set added some new sonic wrinkles: Motzer’s rare acoustic
guitar solo (he usually employs electronic processing, even when playing an
acoustic-electric instrument), as well as a bit of slide; Jones got a couple of
striking solo spots; at one point Grohowski played his drum kit with his hands;
and Skolnick contributed both looping and full-on guitar hero solos. It was an
altogether fearless, rich night of music making, with all of the magic fully
evident in this live document.

PAKT is made up of fretless bass guitarist Percy Jones, guitarists Alex Skolnick
and Tim Motzer, and drummer Kenny Grohowski. They are all very experienced
players. Skolnick is best known as the lead guitarist in the thrash metal band
Testament; he went on to freelance work, playing jazz with his Alex Skolnick
Trio, and experimenting with World Music. Motzer has a long background in free
improvisation as well, including the bands Bandit65 (with fellow guitarist Kurt
Rosenwinkel) and Orion Tango, plus many other recorded collaborations for his 1k
Recordings label. Welsh bassist Jones (long time a New York resident) is known
for his tenure in the jazz fusion group Brand X, collaborations with Suzanne
Vega, as well as extensive studio work (especially with Brian Eno). Grohowski's
recent associations include Imperial Triumphant, John Zorn, Brand X, Felix
Pastorius & the Hipster Assassins.

****
"PAKT recalls the fearless attitude and daring approach that originally defined
progressive music: where the magic of the moment always triumphed over
preconception. Templates be damned ... this music blazes its own path! This is
truly exquisite fare, serving as a reminder to aficionados of what initially
drew them to this most creative, visionary of genres." 

PERCY JONES - bass guitar
ALEX SKOLNICK - guitar
KENNY GROHOWSKI - drums
TIM MOTZER - guitars, electronics



pakt - Percy Jones, Alex Skolnick, Kenny Grohowski, Tim Motzer Hi-Res.rar - 1.1
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pakt - Percy Jones, Alex Skolnick, Kenny Grohowski, Tim Motzer FLAC.rar - 610.5
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