"Real, full-bodied,
intelligent, contemporary, big band efforts...
W.M.U.'s version of the 1972 Yes gem Heart
of the Sunrise really knocked me flat.
That's a very difficult song to cover as
it is so ever-shifting, lengthy and busy."
—Jenifre Tarkus
Kayoa-Benaqeraj,
—KEOL
91.7FM
"Second Season by Wave
Mechanics Union is one of the most fun and
solid discs I've heard this year and in
a long time. The group covers 'Progressive
& Classic Rock as Jazz'. The arrangements
are superb, the song selection's brilliant,
the musicianship top shelf and the vocals
by Lydia McAdams right in the pocket. ...for
me, "Second Season" hits everything
right on the money.
—Russell
Haines, WWSP 89.9FM
"I've been trying to
wrestle the Wave Mechanics Union version
of Killer Queen out of my head
for a week now and can't. That CD has prompted
some fun calls. Try it if you're that
way inclined."
—David
Beckett, WWPV 88.7FM
Has anyone had a chance
to really listen to this CD? Very interesting
on different fronts. The concept of taking
rock material and arranging for jazz isn't
new but what they do here in my opinion...
on several tracks... is outstanding. Totally
fresh and forward thinking arrangements
on these rock mainstays. We will play four...The
Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again,"
Zeppelin's "The Rain Song"(Wonderful
arrangement) King Crimson's "Elephant
Talk" and the Yes classic "Heart
Of the Sunrise." It will make for fascinating
jazz radio IMO. Certainly check it out.
—Jae
Sinnett, WHRV 89.5FM
AUGUSTA, GA - Those in search
of some adventurous sounds could do well
by picking up the latest by Wave Mechanics
Union. With a full-scale jazz orchestra,
Wave Mechanics Union offers a stunning display
of the power of classic and progressive
rock n roll bleeding through the soul of
stylish jazz.
Built on a smooth section
of rhythmic force, this record propels listeners
through the worlds of music at a phenomenal
pace. A creative collaboration formed by
composers Ryan Fraley and Ralph Johnson
along with vocalist Lydia McAdams, Wave
Mechanics Union is propulsion of sound and
melody vibrating throughout space.
Particular highlights include
an amazing cover of Pink Floyd’s “The Great
Gig in the Sky,” a powerful melody-infused
rendition “The Rain Song,” and the smashing,
high-spirited powerhouse “Killer Queen.”
Within this transformative sound, songs
from the likes of Rush, Yes and even Sting
find new life and newly inspired spirits.
Furthermore, the record itself is worth
having simply to hear what may well be a
better than the original tour de force in
the form of The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled
Again.”
In a beautiful infusion
of talent, the classics are reborn in the
power of Wave Mechanics Union.
—J.
Edward Sumerau, Metro Spirit
"Second Season:
Progressive and Classic Rock as Jazz,
a new CD released on October 1, 2008 by
Wave Mechanics Union, interprets the works
of classic rock and progressive bands Yes,
Rush, The Who, Pink Floyd, King Crimson,
The Police and Led Zeppelin, to name a few,
and gives them the ultimate jazz makeover.
Assembled from almost 30
musicians from Indianapolis, Nashville and
Los Angeles, this project is absolutely
top notch. When I closed my eyes, I swear
I could hear the smooth and silky stylings
of Ella Fitzgerald with the Duke Ellington
Orchestra. Vocalist Lydia McAdams exemplifies
the very essence of jazz singing and the
arrangements of Ryan Fraley and Ralph Johnson
left me speechless in how they transformed
guitar, bass, keyboards and drums into a
full jazz orchestra.
I played this CD recently
at a cocktail party and turned the volume
up just enough so that other guests could
just barely hear the vocals. I stood back
in the corner to watch the reaction and
was amazed. Between the people mouthing
the words, to the giggles, to the heads
turning to the toetapping, everyone in the
room could not believe what they heard.
Aside from the popularity of the original
tracks, these new arrangements easily caught
the attention of the party guests.
—www.led-zeppelin.org
Here's a collection of fresh
and modern jazz arrangements on 11 classic
rock tunes. The selections are familiar
tunes from 11 different bands...The Who,
Queen, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Rush, The
Police, Beatles, Sting, King Crimson, They
Might Be Giants, and Yes. The jazz versions
take nothing away from the originals...the
melodies are just as familiar as in the
original recordings...but there's a whole
new level of jazz instrumentation with brass
and reeds, cool and more complex jazz rhythms,
and soaring vocals. The album is a very
creative treatment on some already great
tunes. So if you like your cool jazz...and,
hey, you also like classic rock...you're
gonna love this album!
—www.amazon.com
Second
Season (HX Music), the title of which
is taken from Led Zeppelin’s “The Rain Song”
(covered here in an excellent arrangement),
gives these classic songs a fresh set of
clothes to change into, not only showing
their love of the material but also how
fine these musicians are. Wave Mechanics
Union are a trio that collaborate with a
wide range of musicians, including horn
players and a string quartet so their sound
is full and rich to the point of no return.
...To have [these songs] performed with
a woman singing them is a welcome chance,
especially upon hearing the war chestnut
“Won’t Get Fooled Again” (The Who) or “Killer
Queen” (Queen). They even get into Rush’s
“Available Night” to where you might not
even recognize it as a Rush song. For those
who were raised on these songs, the jazzy
approach may sound like something Norah
Jones would be comfortable in doing, but
McAdams voice’ is stronger and perhaps more
comforting. One of the album’s defining
moments has to be their cover of Yes‘ “Heart
Of The Sunrise”, which truly sounds like
something you’d hear on a high school band
album if high school bands were this cool
and skilled. Screw the Airmen Of Note, this
is Wave Mechanics Union!
Some songs are given the
instrumental treatment. The Beatles‘ “Eleanor
Rigby” features an arrangement that makes
it sound like something you’d hear on a
Stan Kenton (who is referred to in the liner
notes) or Johnny Harris album, while Pink
Floyd’s “The Great Gig In The Sky” could
have been destroyed if the upbeat (!!!)
arrangement featured vocals and fortunately
it doesn’t.
It’s a jazz album with a
twist, one that is actually good without
it being predictable.
—John Book,
Run-Off Groove #225
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