Known Unknown | ||||
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Studio album by Vernon Reid and Masque | ||||
Released | 2004 | |||
Studio | Studio 900, New York City | |||
Genre | Jazz fusion, Jazz-funk | |||
Length | 47:43 | |||
Label | Favored Nations FN2320-2 | |||
Producer | Vernon Reid, Joe Johnson | |||
Vernon Reid chronology | ||||
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Known Unknown is an album by American guitarist and Living Colour member Vernon Reid, his second as a leader. It was recorded at Studio 900 in New York City, and was released in 2004 by Favored Nations. On the album, Reid is backed by members of his band Masque: keyboard player Leon Gruenbaum, bassist Hank Schroy, and drummer Marlon Browden. DJ Logic also appears on one track. [1] [2] [3]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
In a review for AllMusic, Sean Westergaard wrote: "Reid gets some amazingly thick tones out of his guitar, and his playing sounds like no one else... Known Unknown may not reach the highs of Mistaken Identity, but it's great to hear Vernon Reid's guitar out front again on an all-instrumental album." [1]
Dave Segal of Jazz Times stated: "The disc's unsurprisingly a showcase for Reid's flamboyant guitar heroics; his squeals and skronks call to mind Carlos Santana, John Scofield and Jimi Hendrix-all of whom merge technical mastery with soulfulness... Fuzzed-up and fluid, Reid's playing is exhibitionistic, but it doesn't overwhelm his adventurous bandmates' contributions." [4]
Writing for All About Jazz , John Kelman commented: "With Known Unknown... Reid demonstrates one of the single largest components of his playing: organized chaos... Reid's solo style is best described as reckless abandon with a sense of purpose... Known Unknown will not be to everybody's taste; surely Reid's almost unrelenting attack on the senses will be found excessive by many; but there is a group sound, a group identity that manages to emerge here." [5]
In an article for PopMatters , Zeth Lundy remarked: "Some of the album's delirious moments are a bit more complicated and highbrow than simply ecstatic, but that's a minor grievance. If high voltage chemistry and juicy improvisation is your bag, Reid and Masque have got the goodies to fill it." [6]
Living Colour is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. The band currently consists of guitarist Vernon Reid, lead vocalist Corey Glover, drummer Will Calhoun and bassist Doug Wimbish. Stylistically, their music is a creative fusion influenced by heavy metal, funk, jazz, hip hop, punk, and alternative rock. The band's lyrics range from the personal to the political, including social commentary on racism in the United States.
Vernon Alphonsus Reid is an English-born American guitarist and songwriter. Reid is the founder and primary songwriter of the rock band Living Colour, Reid was named No. 66 on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
Gradually Going Tornado is the third solo album by drummer Bill Bruford and the second and final album by his group Bruford. It was co-produced by Bruford and Ron Malo, the latter known from his work with Weather Report. The music on the album leans closer to progressive rock than the jazz fusion oriented sound of the band’s previous albums. More of Bruford's lyrics are featured as well, for the first time sung by bassist Jeff Berlin. "Land's End" incorporates music keyboardist Dave Stewart has previously composed for the National Health album Of Queues and Cures (1978). Guitarist Allan Holdsworth does not appear, and he recommended John Clark as his replacement in the band after he had given Clark several guitar lessons. Clark was listed on the album sleeve as "the unknown John Clark" as part of a running joke related to his relative obscurity in comparison to his predecessor.
Travistan is Travis Morrison's solo debut album, released in 2004 by Barsuk Records. The record is named after the van that Morrison rode in during his former band The Dismemberment Plan's last tour.
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Mistaken Identity is the debut solo album of American guitarist and Living Colour-member Vernon Reid, released in June 1996 on Sony Music-imprint label 550 Music. It features contributions from his backing band Masque, and production was handled by Reid, hip hop producer Prince Paul, and jazz producer Teo Macero. The album's title was inspired by Reid's experience with cultural identity in his life.
Party Intellectuals is the debut album by jazz fusion trio Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog. It was produced by Joel Hamilton and released June 24, 2008 on Pi Recordings.
Unspeakable is a 2004 album by American jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, his 22nd album overall and his 17th to be released on the Elektra Nonesuch label.
Big Satan is an American jazz ensemble headed by composer and alto saxophonist Tim Berne, featuring drummer Tom Rainey and electric guitarist Marc Ducret. Rainey and Ducret are regular Berne collaborators, and both contribute compositions as well.
Music for the Fifth World is an album by Jack DeJohnette, featuring performances with Will Calhoun, Michael Cain, Vernon Reid, Lonnie Plaxico and John Scofield plus vocalists, recorded in 1992 and released on the Manhattan label in 1993.
The Samchillian Tip Tip Tip Cheeepeeeee is a type of electronic keyboard instrument invented by Leon Gruenbaum, that uses keys to trigger melodic intervals aka changes of pitch rather than the traditional fixed pitches.
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The Bruford Tapes is a live 1979 album by the British band Bruford, only issued in the United States, Canada and Japan. It was recorded on July 12, 1979 in Roslyn, New York State and originally broadcast on WLIR radio. Shortly before the tour, guitarist Allan Holdsworth left the band and was replaced by his student John Clark, who had played with the prog group Quasar. The show features extended performances of material from the group's previous two albums Feels Good to Me and One of a Kind.
Woodstock Sessions Vol. 2 is an album by Medeski Martin & Wood and guitarist Nels Cline which was recorded live in the studio and released in April 2014 on the band's Woodstock Sessions label.
Smash & Scatteration is an album by guitarists Vernon Reid and Bill Frisell which was originally released on the Minor Music in 1985 before being rereleased on CD on Rykodisc.
Malicool is an album by American trombonist Roswell Rudd and Malian kora player Toumani Diabaté. It was recorded in January 2001 at Studio Bogolan in Bamako, Mali, and was released by Sunnyside Records in 2002. On the album Rudd and Diabaté are joined by balaphone player Lassana Diabate, ngone player Bassekou Kouyate, guitarist Sayon Sissoko, bassist Henry Schroy, djembe player Sekou Diabate, and vocalists Mamadou Kouyate and Dala Diabate.
Other True Self is an album by American guitarist and Living Colour member Vernon Reid, his third as a leader. It was recorded in October 2005 at Gigantic Studios in New York City, and was released in 2006 by Favored Nations. On the album, Reid is backed by members of his band Masque: keyboard player Leon Gruenbaum, bassist Hank Schroy, and drummer Don McKenzie.
Urban Mythology Volume One is the debut album by American experimental power trio Free Form Funky Frēqs, featuring guitarist Vernon Reid, bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma, and drummer G. Calvin Weston. It was recorded during the summer of 2007 at Fenix Studios in Staten Island, New York, and was released in 2008 by Thirsty Ear Recordings.
Front End Lifter is an album by the Yohimbe Brothers, featuring guitarist Vernon Reid and turntablist DJ Logic. It was recorded at DharmaLab, Reid's home studio in Staten Island, New York, and was released in 2002 by Ropeadope Records. On the album, Reid and Logic are joined by seventeen guest musicians.
The Tao of Yo is an album by the Yohimbe Brothers, featuring guitarist Vernon Reid and turntablist DJ Logic. It was released in 2004 by Thirsty Ear Recordings.