The New York based group Reverend Zen has released its debut album, Angels,
Blues & the Crying Moon, on the independent label Blakjak Music. Receiving
three Best Song Nominations in the 2007 Los Angeles Music Awards, a 2007
ASCAP Plus Award and Finalists in the 2006 VH1 Song of the Year Contest
and the 2007 Unisong International Song Contest, the band seamlessly blends
rock, jazz and R&B into their own singular vision. VH1 comments, "Listening
to these songs you're drawn in by their unique, vivid mirrors of human nature
and emotion. Their lyrics and arrangements have the power to make you remember
both the songs and their performances. This music is straight from the heart,
with stand out guitar that's perfectly executed and first rate production."
Such substance and precision has been honed over time with the band writing
and recording the album over a ten year period. You'll hear this dedication
and attention to detail in each exacting lyric and every well executed chord
change. "Bandleader Jack Evans blends strong song writing with obviously
accomplished musicianship," remarks Rich Lepescu of Nebula Music Magazine.
These are always timeless qualities in music and Reverend Zen not only reminds
us of Steely Dan's cleverness and the listen ability of Sting but they also
touch upon the catharsis of introspection heralded by the singer/songwriters.
Reverend Zen's musical credentials are beyond question. The group's musicians
have a history of playing with the music greats, ranging from Eric Clapton
and Bruce Springsteen to Sheryll Crow, Donald Fagen, John Scofield, Elvis
Costello, Shawn Colvin and John Mayer. The band's sound pays tribute to
these influences, but also pushes musical boundaries mixing the funk laden
wit of "Bad Attitude" and the burning "Boy Genius”.
"Our influences span several genres," says Evans, who names Miles
Davis, James Brown, Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Bob Dylan, Sting and Debussy
among their favorites. "Still all of them inspire us with their spirit,
eloquence and craft. They all express themselves with conviction and humanity."
Resumes and platitudes aside Reverend Zen's true genius lies in its music,
and Angels, Blues & the Crying Moon is everything a great album should
be. Melodies that hang in your head like an old friend. Lyrics of wit, introspection
and cultural commentary. Dead on drum tracks, bad ass guitar solos and subtleties
that slowly reveal themselves.
Ten years in the making, Angels, Blues, & the Crying Moon was worth
the wait and looks set to take Reverend Zen's mix of rock, jazz and R&B
to the world stage.
Buy R.Z.
CDs
