ProgDay Announces MIRTHRANDIR

ProgDay is thrilled to announce the addition of MIRTHRANDIR to this year’s lineup. With a style in the tradition of classic symphonic, melodic, driving progressive rock, the band also features a unique twin lead guitar attack that allows for added complexity and density. The band formed back in the early 70’s and released “For You The Old Women” in 1976, generally ranked as one of the top American progressive rock albums of the time. For a while it looked like MIRTHRANDIR would join the top tier of U.S. based progressive rock acts, but unfortunately the band broke up before that happened. Reunited in the new millennium, critically acclaimed performances at the New Jersey Proghouse, Baja Progressive Rock Festival, and The Rights Of Spring Festival have gained the band a whole new generation of fans. ProgDay is proud to welcome this classic ensemble to the Storybook stage.

ProgDay, the world’s longest running progressive rock festival, takes place this year on August 30th and 31st at Storybook Farm near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Other bands announced so far are Ain Soph (Japan), Canvas Solaris (US), CHEER-ACCIDENT (US), Holding Pattern (US), VonFrickle (US) and Abigail's Ghost (US).

To hear music and get information about all the bands, please visit their website at www.progday.com

Bassist Dave Carpenter Passes At The Age Of 47

The Los Angeles based bass player Dave Carpenter, sadly passed away tuesday night from a heart attack at the age of 47. Carpenter was an accomplished bass player and musician who played on over 100 albums with Allan Holdsworth, Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua, Joel Taylor, Mike Stern, Scott Henderson, Mitchel Forman, Eric Marienthal, Jeff Golub, Dave Liebman, Lee Ritenour, Ilona Knopfler, Dianne Reeves, Tom Scott, Masanori Sasaji, Joe Mazzone, Rita Coolidge, Russ Freeman, Rod Stewart, Johnny Mathis, Barbara Streisand, David Benoit, Boz Scaggs, Skakira and many more.
Chiefly a jazz musician, Dave left his hometown of Dayton, Ohio in 1983 to move to New York City. It was here that he first toured and recorded with artists such as Buddy Rich, Woody Herman and Maynard Ferguson. Frank Gambale commented, "I am deeply saddened. He was a terrific human being and has died waaaaaay too young. No one played like he did. It just goes to show that this traveling, touring lifestyle takes it's toll...sleeping in airports after two hours in a bed that's not your own, trying to sleep on airplanes, playing your heart out no matter how you feel.... Every day is precious my friends... RIP Dave, we love and miss you already. My sincerest condolences to his family." It was also heard hear that the Tierney Sutton Band announced it at her performance in New York City. Prior to her encore, she announced that bassist Dave Carpenter passed away. She dedicated the tune "We Will meet Again," a piece by Bill Evans with lyrics by Karen Gallinger, to his memory. Gary Carpenter passed away June 24, 2008.

Tom Gagliardi

Ohm To Release New Album In August

OHM, the progressive rock fusion project of Chris Poland of Megadeath fame, will release its new studio CD, "Circus of Sound", on August 26 on the Shrapnel/Tone Center Records. "Circus of Sound" marks OHM:'s third studio album and fourth release overall and sees the band "exploring a heavier sound overall while retaining the classic OHM: sound and direction," according to a press release.

"Circus of Sound" track listing:
01. Fun House
02. System Of A Clown
03. Photograph
04. Circus Of Sound
05. Point Omega
06. Abracadabra
07. The Shortest Straw
08. The Black Hand
09. You Don't Know
10. Steps From Home
11. Mr. Brown
12. DD214
13. Leap Of Faith
14. Pan's Plan
Recording lineup: Chris Poland - guitars Robby Pagliari - bass
Joel Taylor - drums on tracks 1-3
Frank Briggs - drums on tracks 4-7
Kofi Baker - drums on tracks 8-14
There are some tour plans in the making and well as a slew of promotional radio interviews that will coincide with the release. The band will also start gigging again regionally in its homebase of the Los Angeles area soon.
For more information visit http://chrispoland.com

Steve Nardelli Makes Expansion Announcement

June 23, 2008, New York – Pioneering entrepreneur Steve Nardelli, lead writer and vocalist for the legendry `60s band The Syn, has earmarked $12M of a total investment portfolio of $600M to expand the operations of his New York-based Umbrello Music Entertainment. With this infusion of capital and two major new contracts to add to their growing client list, UME is now in a prime situation to solidify a leading market position. Umbrello Music Entertainment is working with production house Edpic to supply targeted video and music content to Nokia, the world's largest manufacturer of mobile telephones, and to Amazon.com, the major online retailer. These agreements will be further supported by Umbrello's record label and Umbrello.tv. (http://umbrello.tv). Nardelli states that Umbrello will offer a true alternative to mainstream chart music and video. "Through our global digital portal agreements, we will supply quality broadcast content to a worldwide audience of millions." "Steve identifies change before change happens," says UK billionaire Mike Ashley who partnered with Nardelli to purchase and re-build Donnay, a leading manufacturer of sports racquets. The Donnay brand became a cornerstone of Sports Direct bringing their company forward into international retail superstardom. Nardelli has started to invest the bulk of the $600M into property development projects in the UK with an emphasis on "green and planet friendly" social housing developments through his Evergreen Homes Company.
About Umbrello Music Entertainment:UME is an independent producer and distributor of high-quality content for diverse digital entertainment platforms worldwide. With production studios in London, Philadelphia and New York, UME's library of premium short form programmes is extensive with unending additions. UME offers their clients a competitive advantage with unique,attention-grabbing content that gives their viewers more choices. As a video partner, UME works with clients to assess their needs and develop effective quality programming for maximum impact to their target markets.
www.umbrello.tv
www.umbrellorecords.com

Into Eternity To Release New Album

Century Media Records has set an August 25 European release date for "The Incurable Tragedy", the new album from the Canadian progressive metal titans INTO ETERNITY. The band's first conceptual offering will be released in North America on September 2. "The Incurable Tragedy", marks the band's first recording effort with Justin Bender (guitars) and Steve Bolognese (drums), who came aboard shortly after the group finished Gigantour '06. This CD was inspired by the deaths of Tim Roth's (guitar, vocals) two best friends, brothers who succumbed to cancer within two months of one another. To make matters worse, Roth's father was diagnosed with cancer as well. Showing no mercy, the disease claimed his life last year, just 10 days before Christmas. Roth channeled his emotions into a moving and riveting album which is sure to propel the band to new heights within the genre. "The Incurable Tragedy" features a slew of tracks with the band's trademarked heavy grooves, stop-on-a-dime time changes, reflective lyrics, memorable choruses, shredding solos, and vocals that range from guttural growls to soaring harmonies.

Jazz Pianist Esbjörn Svensson Killed in Scuba Accident

From The Guardian

Esbjörn Svensson, the genre-defying Swedish jazz pianist and composer, has died in a scuba diving accident, his manager said yesterday.
Burkhard Hopper, manager of the Esbjörn Svensson Trio (E.S.T.), said that Svensson died on Saturday in Sweden's Stockholm archipelago. He was 44.
According to the website allaboutjazz.com, he had been swimming near a jetty with several other divers when the accident occurred; he was found "severely injured" on the seabed, and resuscitation on land was unsuccessful.

According to the Guardian's jazz critic John Fordham, Svensson was a rare phenomenon in the jazz world: "A hero to the hardline critics, and a bankable international star."
A string of 13 albums won critical acclaim and commercial success for his blend of contemporary jazz crossed with rock, pop and electronica.
Yesterday, Hopper told the Reuters news agency: "Musically, he was the light that lit the world, because in what he did he was pushing boundaries.
"Himself, he said he was following the music inside himself. His music inspired people in all corners of the world."
Formed in 1993, E.S.T. was the first European group to be honoured on the cover of the prestigious US jazz magazine Down Beat, in 2006.
In 2006, the group - with Dan Berglund on double bass and Magnus Öström on drums - won the European Jazz Award and the BBC Jazz Award.
Svensson is survived by his wife and two children.

John Ford To Headline Power Of Prog Festival

(New York) -Friday, 27 th June 2008, marks the inaugural year and date for the Progressive Rock Hall of Fame Award Ceremony and Concert. This very special event is being hosted by Melodic Revolution Records and the Power of Prog Festival.
John Ford will headline Day 2 on Sat., 28th June 2008 - 9:00-10:30PM, of the three day Power of Prog Festival - June 27-28-29, 2008, at the historic Kirkland Arts Center on the Village Green in Clinton, NY, located near the beautiful Mohawk Valley in upstate New York. The Kirkland Arts Center, a former church cathedral lends itself to some fantastic acoustics, as a performance venue. John Ford's setlist will feature songs off his forthcoming album, 'Big Hit In India' and other favourites from his extensive catalogue, including 'Part of the Union,' penned during his early days with the Strawbs band which also included Rick Wakeman - keyboard extraordinaire, who later went on to join the group, YES.
John Ford will be performing with some members of his backing band. There may be a Special Guest appearance by Strawbs' keyboardist, John Hawken although this has not been confirmed. On Sunday, 29th June 2008, as of the Power of Prog Festival draws to a close, from 5:30 to 6:30 PM there will be the Inaugural 2008 Progressive Rock Hall of Fame Inductee Awards Ceremony. John Ford will be amongst the presenters, bestowing a 2008 Inductee Award to the band, KANSAS, at the 2008 PRHOF Presentation Awards Ceremony, to be followed by additional performances from other artists to end the final day of the Power of Prog Festival. Visit John Ford of The Strawbs website & MySpace: http://www.johnfordmusic.net http://www.myspace.com/johnfordofthestrawbs