On May 2, 1998, Hideto Matsumoto, died aged 33. He was singer-songwriter, musician (guitar) and record producer. He was the lead guitarist of the rock band X Japan, founding member of the band Zilch, and had a successful solo career. X Japan rose to prominence in the late 80s and early 90s, credited as founders of the Japanese visual kei movement. Hide was seen as an icon of the Japanese youth rebelling against the country’s conformist society, and his death was labeled “the end of an era”. More than 70,000 people attended his funeral on May 7th, with security of 100 police officers, 170 security guards, police boats and helicopters. 21 people were hospitalized for injuries caused by the massive crowd at the funeral.
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Mark Turner Quintet: Yam Yam
On May 2, 1995, “Criss Cross Jazz” label released “Yam Yam”, the debut Mark Turner Quintet album. It was recorded in December 1994, at “PRM Studio” in New York City, and was produced by Gerry Teekens.
Personnel:
- Mark Turner– tenor saxophone
- Larry Grenadier– double bass
- Brad Mehldau– piano
- Kurt Rosenwinkel– guitar
- Jorge Rossy– drums
- Seamus Blake – tenor saxophone
- Terence Dean – tenor saxophone
Track listing:
All tracks by Mark Turner except where notrd.
- Tune Number One
- Cubism – Kurt Rosenwinkel
- Yam Yam I
- Moment’s Notice – John Coltraness
- Isolation
- Subtle Tragedy – Brad Mehldau
- Zürich
- Blues
- Yam Yam II
Tony Allen
On April 30, 2020, Tony Oladipo Allen died aged 80. He was composer, songwriter and musician (drums), regarded as one of the primary co-founders of the genre of Afrobeat music. He has recorded and performed with Fela Kuti, Roy Ayers, Ernest Raanglin, Zap Mama, Sébastien Tellier, Chicago Afrobeat Project, Moritz Von Oswald Trio, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jimi Tenor, Rocket Juice & The Moon, Gonjasufi and Hugh Masekela. Brian Eno described Allen as “perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived”.
Glass Hammer: Chronometree
On May 1, 2000, “Arion Records” and “Sound Resources” labels released “Chronometree”, the fourth Glass Hammer studio album. It was recorded 1999 – 2000, and was produced by Steve Babb and Fred Schendel.
Personnel:
- Fred Schendel – Hammond organ, mellotron, Moog, synthesizers, acoustic, electric and slide guitar, Autoharp, recorders, drums, backing vocals
- Steve Babb – bass, keyboards, Mellotron, assorted analog synthesizers, backing vocals
- Walter Moore – electric and acoustic guitars, drums
- Brad Marler – acoustic guitar, lead and backing vocals
- Arjen Lucassen– additional lead guitar
- Terry Clouse – additional lead guitar
- Susie Warren – backing vocals
- Jamie Watkins – backing vocals
- Sarah Snyder – backing vocals
- Bruce Huffman – cover art
Track listing:
All tracks by Fred Schendel and Steve Babb except when noted.
- Empty Space – Revealer
- An Eldritch Wind
- Revelation / Chronometry
- Chronotheme
- A Perfect Carousel – Brad Marler
- Chronos Deliverer
- Shapes of the Morning
- Chronoverture
- The Waiting
- Watching the Sky
Wolfgang Press: Standing Up Straight
On May 1, 1986, “4AD” label released “Standing Up Straight”, the second Wolfgang Press studio album. It was recorded January – March 1986, at “Blackwing Studios” in London, and was produced by John Fryer, Michael Allen, Mark Cox and Andrew Gray.
Personnel:
- Michael Allen – vocals, bass
- Andrew Gray – guitars
- Mark Cox – keyboards
- John Fryer – marimba, percussion, programming, engineer
- Gini Ball – violin, viola
- Elizabeth Fraser– vocals
- Martin McGarrick – cello
- 23 Envelope – design, typography, photography
- Chris Bigg – typography
- Ruth Rowland – typography
Track listing:
All tracks by Andrew Gray, Mark Cox and Michael Allen.
- Dig a Hole
- My Life
- Hammer the Halo
- Bless My Brother
- Fire – Fly
- Ghost
- Rotten Fodder
- Forty Days, Thirty Nights
- I Am the Crime
Alan Parsons Project: Tales of Mystery and Imagination
On May 1, 1976, “Charisma” label released “Tales of Mystery and Imagination (Edgar Allan Poe)”, the debut Alan Parsons Project studio album. It was recorded July 1975 – January 1976, at “Abbey Road” and “Kingsway Hall” in London, “Mama Jo’s” in Hollywood, and was produced by Alan Parsons.
Personnel:
- Alan Parsons– lead vocals, guitar, organ, synthesizer, keyboards, recorder, engineer, projectron
- Eric Woolfson– lead and background vocals, synthesizer, harpsichord, keyboards, executive producer
- Andrew Powell– keyboards, arranger
- Ian Bairnson– acoustic and electric guitar
- Billy Lyall– piano, drums, glockenspiel, keyboards, recorder, Fender rhodes
- Francis Monkman– organ, keyboards
- Christopher North– keyboards
- David Paton– lead and background vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, bass
- Leonard Whiting– vocals, narrator
- John Miles– vocals, guitar
- Jane Powell – lead and background vocals
- Arthur Brown– vocals
- Terry Sylvester– vocals
- English Chorale– vocals
- Smokey Parsons – vocals
- Jack Harris– vocals
- Bob Howes – choir
- The English Chorale and Played Ti – choir
- Kevin Peek– acoustic guitar
- Laurence Juber – acoustic guitar
- David Pack– guitar
- Joe Puerta– bass
- Les Hurdle – bass
- Daryl Runswick– bass, string bass
- David Katz – violin, orchestra contractor
- Stuart Tosh– vocals, cymbals, drums, Tympani
- John Leach – vocals, percussion, cimbalom, kantele
- Burleigh Drummond– drums
- Dennis Clarke – saxophone, clarinet
- David Snell – harp
- Gordon Parry – engineer
- Tom Trefethen – engineer assistant
- Tony Richards – engineer assistant
- Pat Stapley – engineer assistant
- Chris Blair – engineer assistant
- Colin Elgie – artwork, design, layout design
- Hipgnosis– design, cover art
- Aubrey Powell– photography
- Peter Christopherson– photography
- Storm Thorgerson– photography
- Sam Emerson – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Eric Woolfson and Alan Parsons except where noted.
- A Dream Within a Dream
- The Raven
- The Tell – Tale Heart
- The Cask of Amontillado
- The System of Dr. Tarr and Professor Fether
- The Fall of the House of Usher Eric Woolfson, Alan Parsons, Andrew Powell
- Prelude
- Arrival
- Intermezzo
- Pavane
- Fall
- To One in Paradise
Steve Hunter: The Manhattan Blues Project
On April 30, 2013, “deaconrecords” label released “The Manhattan Blues Project”, the fifth Steve Hunter studio album. It was recorded in 2013, and was produced by Steve Hunter.
Personnel:
- Steve Hunter– guitar
- Karen Ann Hunter – vocals
- Todd Chuba – drums
- Phil Aaberg– piano, keyboards
- 2Cellos – Luka Šulić, Stjepan Hauser
- Johnny Depp– guitar
- Marty Friedman– guitar
- Michael Lee Firkins– slide guitar
- Tommy Henriksen– vocal rap
- Tony Levin– bass guitar
- Joe Perry– guitar
- Joe Satriani– guitar
- Todd Chuba – drums
- Jason Becker – programming
- Dave Shirk – mastering
- Karen Hunter – design
- Michael Woodall – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Steve Hunter.
- Prelude to the Blues
- 222 W. 23rd
- Gramercy Park
- A Night at the Waldorf
- Solsbury Hill – Peter Gabriel
- Daydream by the Hudson – Jason Becker
- Flames at the Dakota
- The Brooklyn Shuffle
- What’s Going on – Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye
- Ground Zero
- Twilight in Harlem
- Sunset in Central Park
Ceramic Dog: Your Turn
On April 30, 2013, “Northern Spy” label released “Your Turn”, studio album by Ceramic Dog (20th Marc Ribot album overall). It was recorded in 2013, and was produced by Greg Saunie.
Personnel:
- Marc Ribot– vocals, guitar, banjo, bass, melodica, horn, trumpet
- Arto Lindsay– guitar
- Shahzad Ismaily– vocals, bass, synthesizer, guitar, keyboards, sampling, Moog synthesizer
- Ches Smith– vocals, drums, percussion, electronics, keyboards
- Eszter Balint– vocals, melodica, organ, violin
- Dan Willis – oboe, zurna
- Keefus Ciancia– sampling
- Greg Saunier – mixing
Track listing:
All tracks by Marc Ribot, except where noted.
- Lies My Body Told Me
- Your Turn – Shahzad Ismaily, Marc Ribot, Ches Smith
- Masters of the Internet
- Ritual Slaughter – Shahzad Ismaily, Marc Ribot, Ches Smith
- Avanti Popolo – Carlo Tuzzi, traditional
- Ain’t Gonna Let Them Turn Us Around
- Bread and Roses – James Oppenheim
- Prayer
- Pants Goes to Hollywood
- The Kid is Back
- Take 5 – Paul Desmond
- We Are Professionals – Shahzad Ismaily, Marc Ribot, Ches Smith
- Special Snowflake – Chez Smith
Trey Anastasio: Same
On April 30, 2002, “Elektra” label released the self – titled, second Trey Anastasio studio album. It was recorded June – December 2001, at “The Barn” in Westford, Vermont, and was produced by Trey Anastasio and Bryce Goggin.
Personnel:
- Trey Anastasio – vocals, guitar
- Tony Markellis – vocals, bass guitar
- Russ Lawton – vocals, drums
- Jennifer Hartswick – vocals, trumpet
- Ray Paczkowski – keyboards
- Russell Remmington – tenor saxophone, flute
- Dave Grippo – alt and baritone saxophone
- Dana Colley – saxophone
- Rob Volo – trombone
- Nicholas Payton – trumpet
- Andy Moroz – trumpet
- Stacey Brubaker – flute
- Karen Kevra – flute
- Ann Greenawalt – oboe, English horn
- Steve Klimowski – clarinet, bass clarinet
- Craig Olzenak – bass clarinet
- Margaret Phillips – bassoon
- Shelagh Abate – French horn
- Jocelyn Crawford – French horn
- Mike Hopkins – double bass
- Cyro Baptista – percussion
- Curtis King Jr. – vocals
- Lisa Fisher – vocals
- David Gusacov – violin
- Laura Markowitz – violin
- Ana Ruesink – viola
- John Dunlop – cello
- Peter Wilson – timpani
- Tom Toner – marimba
Track listing:
- Alive Again
- Cayman Review
- Push On ‘Til the Day
- Night Speaks to a Woman
- Flock of Words
- Money, Love and Change
- Drifting
- At the Gazebo
- Mister Completely
- Ray Dawn Balloon
- Last Tube
- Ether Sunday
And So I Watch You From Afar: Gangs
On April 29, 2011. “Richter Collective” label released “Gangs”, the second And So I Watch You From Afar studio album. It was recorded 2010 – 2011, at “Start Together Studio” in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and was produced by Rocky O’Reilly, Rory Friers, Tony Wright, Jonathan Adger and Chris Wee.
Personnel:
- Rory Friers – guitar
- Tony Wright – guitar
- Jonathan Adger – bass
- Chris Wee – drums, percussion
- Rocky O’Reilly – engineer, mixing
- Lee McMahon – engineer assistant
- Robin Schmidt – mastering
Track listing:
All tracks by Rory Friers, Tony Wright, Jonathan Adger and Chris Wee.
- BEAUTIFULUNIVERSEMASTERCHAMPION
- Gang (Starting Never Stopping)
- Search: Party Animal
- 7 Billion People All Alive at Once
- Think: Breathe: Destroy
- Homes – Ghost Parlor KA – 6 To…
- Homes – …Samara to Belfast
- Lifeproof
