(Neo-fusion) Niacin (Billy Sheehan, John Novello, Dennis Chambers): дискография (7 релизов, 1996–2013), MP3 (CBR 320 kbps)

Progressive power-трио NIACIN было создано в 1996-м году по инициативе легендарного американского басиста Билли Шиэна (Billy Sheehan). С момента своего появления на металлической сцене в 1980-м году в составе группы TALAS, Шиэн практически не исчезал из поля зрения металлической аудитории. После короткого сотрудничества с UFO, он присоединился к сольному проекту Дэвида Ли Рота (David Lee Roth, ex-VAN HALEN), после чего создал весьма популярную, особенно в Японии, группу MR.BIG.
Вторым участником проекта стал не менее известный в джазовых и фанк-кругах ударник Деннис Чамберс (Dennis Chambers), его услугами в разное время пользовались десятки звезд, в том числе такие нашумевшие группы, как PARLIAMENT, FUNKADELIC и STEELY DAN. Идея, пришедшая в голову этой потрясающей ритм-секции, была не менее потрясающей. Вспомнив о том, что было время (начало семидесятых), когда орган Хаммонд Б-3 был зачастую более важной составляющей саунда группы, чем гитара. Шиэн и Чамберс приняли решение - в трио не будет гитары, но будет клавишник, играющий именно на Б-3! Так в группе появился Джон Новелло (John Novello), тоже далеко не новичок в рок-бизнесе. Он, в свою очередь, сотрудничал с EDGAR WINTER BAND, GLENN HUGHES, MR. BIG, а также экспериментирует в рамках собственной JOHN NOVELLO BAND.
Трио играет отличную смесь прогрессив-рока и фьюжн.

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NIACIN features John Novello on Hammond B3 organ & keyboards, Billy Sheehan on bass and Dennis Chambers on drums. All are seriously accomplished musicians and play everything from rock, funk, jazz, fusion, progressive and beyond. They are an instrumental group, so the focus is obviously on interesting composition and inspired improvisation. Yet the musical roots of the band's members go back to the late 60's and early 70's progressive rock giants with whom they are so often (and rightly) compared to, like: YES, GENESIS, EMERSON LAKE & PALMER, KING CRIMSON, TRAFFIC.

01. No Man's Land (04:59)
02. Clean-up Crew (01:07)
03. Do A Little Dirty Work (05:50)
04. I Miss You (Like I Miss The Sun) (04:54)
05. One Less Worry (04:12)
06. Three Feet Back (05:32)
07. Bullet Train Blues (04:53)
08. Hell To Pay (04:36)
09. Alone On My Own Little Island (04:54)
10. For Crying Out Loud (03:30)
11. Klaghorn (06:29)
12. Spring Rounds (02:35)
13. Spring Rounds Squared (03:04)
14. Pay Dirt (04:15)
15. Fudgesicle (01:40)
Total time: 01:02:27 

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Review:
This CD is for fans of instrumental Jazz Fusion styled playing with a dash of Rock n Roll. The ferocious playing will surely blow your mind. John Novello plays a mean B-3 organ a la Keith Emerson, etc. while Dennis Chambers provides a steady groove on the drums. Add bassist virtuoso Billy Sheehan and you have the band Niacin. This CD will take you through a variety of adventurous moods and styles of playing. It is hard to believe that this CD is their first. Bassists need to check out the song 'Clean-Up Crew' to believe it.

#777

01. Clean Up Crew (00:29)
02. Do A Little Dirty Work (05:50)
03. Bullet Train Blues (04:49)
04. Hell To Pay (08:55)
05. Niacin (03:42)
06. One Less Worry (07:29)
07. I Miss You (Like I Miss The Sun) (06:03)
08. Klaghorn (07:36)
09. Three Feet Back (05:07)
10. Purple Rain (04:32)
11. No Man's Land (04:51)
12. You Keep Me Hangin' On (06:07)
Unreleased studio tracks:
13. Front And Center (05:25)
14. Gelatin (04:56)
Total time: 01:15:52 

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Info:
Tracks 1-12 recorded live in Jakarta, Indonesia & Tokyo, Japan.
The album also features 2 unreleased studio tracks: 'Front & Center' and 'Gelatin'.

#777

01. High Bias (06:07)
02. Birdland (06:34)
03. Slapped Silly (04:49)
04. Montuno (06:26)
05. Revenge (08:15)
06. Cool To The Touch (06:09)
07. Darkside (04:27)
08. It's The Little Things (05:27)
09. Soul Diversion (05:04)
10. Who Cares If It's Raining (04:17)
11. Hang Me Upside Down (11:31)
Total time: 01:09:05 

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Review:
Chances are great that if you enjoyed the first Niacin CD, that you'll like this one as well. 'High Bias' leans a bit more towards jazz than the first CD does, though. People will no doubt be interested in hearing their take on Weather Report's 'Birdland'. Do check out this excellent jazz-rock power trio's sound clips! They sound like a futuristic jazzy instrumental version of Emerson, Lake and Palmer.

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01. Swing Swang Swung (03:48)
02. Best Laid Plans (04:26)
03. Sugar Blues (05:50)
04. Stompin' Ground (05:03)
05. Blue Mondo (05:56)
06. Panic Button (05:38)
07. Bootleg Jeans (07:01)
08. Mean Streets (05:38)
09. This One's Called... (03:46)
10. Klunkified (02:59)
11. Ratta McQue (03:49)
12. Things Ain't Like They Used To Be (07:25)
13. Bluesion (04:19)
Total time: 01:05:38 

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Review:
"Deep" contains many rock, blues, jazz-fusioned flavored tracks. They do a cover of Van Halen's "Mean Streets" with bassist Billy Sheehan wailing out an unbelievable bass groove. They also get help from Toto veteran and guitar legend Steve Lukather and smoking vocals by Glenn Hughes on "Things Ain't Like They Used To Be" one of the many highlights on the disc.
With the trademark keyboards of John Novello and drum veteran Dennis Chambers this is a must have for fusions fans out there.

#777
01. Elbow Grease (05:19)
02. Time Crunch (03:15)
03. Stone Face (06:12)
04. Red (08:00)
05. Invisible King (04:28)
06. Daddy Long Leg (05:19)
07. Hog Funk (05:08)
08. Glow (03:07)
09. Damaged Goods (04:25)
10. Outside Inside Out (05:03)
11. Blue Wind (05:54)
Total time: 00:56:10 

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Review:
Supergroup Niacin's release on Magna Carta is the incredible! Billy Sheehan lays down the overall vibe for the project: "The record overall is just a little bit heavier and aggressive than we had gone before, a little bit more toward progressive rock than the fusion or jazz direction. We definitely went more towards some of our late '60s, early '70s prog rock roots, people like King Crimson, PFM, Gentle Giant, early Genesis and of course, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, a classic B-3 band, and one we often get compared to. Both John and I as writers have many, many influences. We've both gone in many directions in our years of playing. And a good part of that is that you have a big bag of tricks to pull from. So we have a lot of things that we can reference or use as inspiration". Fans of progressive rock will enjoy the covers of King Crimson's moody, ominous "Red" and Jan Hammer's elaborate and memorable "Blue Wind."

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01. Barbarian @ The Gate (02:57)
02. Nemesis (04:00)
03. Blisterine (05:35)
04. King Kong (07:21)
05. Super Grande (04:58)
06. Magnetic Mood (06:40)
07. Hair Of The Dog (04:18)
08. 4'5 3 (04:17)
09. Stumble On The Truth (03:48)
10. Club Soda (04:31)
11. No Shame (04:27)
12. Clean House (04:22)
13. Footprints In The Sand (06:02)
Total time: 01:03:16 

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Review:
"Organik" is yet another strong instrumental album from Niacin. The band move away from fusion a bit on this one and seem to concentrate more on progressive rock. There is more than a passing resemblance to ELP in this disc as John Novello commands his Hammond B-3 to it's full bombastic glory. There is even some music here that could be considered Canterbury. The track "Club Soda" sounds as if it could have come from Caravan back in their hey day. There is also plenty of fusion and funk to be found, and of course Chambers and Sheehan are simply incredible throughout. I also like the fact that Novello moves away from the Hammond from time to time to embark on a bit of piano. It gives the album more variety than some of their earlier work. Bottom line this is another great one from these guys.

#777
01. Krush (04:19)
02. Tone Wheels (04:39)
03. Stormy Sunday (06:35)
04. Low Art (04:23)
05. Car Crash Red (04:13)
06. Electorcity (04:20)
07. Cold Fusion (06:40)
08. Majestic Dance (04:47)
09. Prelude & Funky Opus (07:04)
10. The Gnarly Shuffle (04:06)
11. Drifting (07:28)
12. Sly Voltage (04:03)
13. That’s The One! (03:55)
14. Triple Strength (06:05)
Total time: 01:13:25 

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Review:
For the last several years, the individual members of NIACIN have worked steadily on various other projects — Chambers, for example, continues to serve as the musical anchor for Carlos Santana's ongoing Las Vegas residency — but in 2012, the group reconvened for the first time since 2006 to write and record "Krush". It's the band's 6th album. In the past, they featured a strictly Hammond/bass/drums sound, but here the keyboards have been expanded into other territory, but the basic thrust - 3 excellent to world class musicians playing hot and furiously. REALLY good stuff!